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Tom Aspinall said he doesn't think Jon Jones is ducking him and believes the American fighter is only chasing the biggest payday possible as the current interim UFC heavyweight champion also rules Jones out of the greatest of all-time conversation because of failed drugs tests.
The 37-year-old Jones returned to the Octagon to take on Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16 and won via a spinning back kick and punches, before announcing his intention to fight Alex Pereira.
His declaration came after several calls for him to take on the United Kingdom's Aspinall to the point where he walked out of an interview with a TNT Sports reporter because he expected the conversation to be all about the 31-year-old.
But now there is pressure from even Dana White on the man from New York to take on the man from Manchester, but the latter thinks he isn't actually dodging him and is only chasing the cash in his twilight years.
"I don't think he is a snowflake now," Aspinall told Piers Morgan. "He's trying to get more money. I don't think he's ducking me. He's trying to get more money.
"You know what? I agree I actually agree with a lot of what Jon says. When you put the resumes next to each other. His resume is far superior to mine. The risk-reward for both of us his risk is here."
Aspinall says Jones can't be GOAT because of drugs test fails
Jones is regarded as one of the finest UFC fighters of all-time, and as a result one of the best MMA fighters ever, and is currently placed second in the pound-for-pound rankings as of December 2024.
But there is a very dark shadow over his career in the Octagon after he failed two drugs tests in 2016 and 2017, being suspended twice as well as losing his victory over Daniel Cormier as a result.
It's for these reasons that Aspinall believes the UFC champion simply cannot be considered as the best to ever do it with such a large question mark over his legacy and the fairness of his competitive history.
"Potentially [the greatest ever]," Aspinall added. "But the way that I look at it, he has failed a couple of drug tests.
"To me, that rules you out of being the best of all time. For me, personally, if you're on PEDs and your opponent isn't, that's absolutely cheating."