Anthony Smith explains how Tom Aspinall is being played by 'master manipulator' Jon Jones
Anthony Smith explains how Tom Aspinall is being played by 'master manipulator' Jon Jones
Anthony Smith thinks UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is playing mind games with Tom Aspinall.
It's been a long wait for interim champ Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who's yet to get his title-unification bout with Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC). Although UFC CEO Dana White is confident that the matchup materializes this year, Smith advises Aspinall to stop provoking Jones.
Aspinall has continuously accused Jones of ducking him, and Smith thinks his approach will only continue further delaying the matchup. Smith has first-hand experience fighting Jones after lost a unanimous decision in their 2019 light heavyweight title fight at UFC 235.
"I have a lot of love and respect for Tom Aspinall, but if I'm Tom, I'm probably going to be a little quieter," Smith told ESPN. "I think that he's poking, and he's prodding, and he's trying to attack Jon Jones' ego a little bit, and force Jon into this ego competition where Jon says, 'I'm not afraid of you. I want to go fight now.' Jon is not going to do that. Jon Jones, in every single part of his life, has to be in control of it. Jon is a master manipulator, and he is a master at mind games that are behind this sport. He's been doing it for years against the best guys in the world. I understand Aspinall has this fighter mindset where he wants to say, 'I'm better than you, and you think you're better than me, so I'm going to keep attacking that.'
"Jon doesn't care about any of that. The person who cares the least in every negotiation, wins. Jon Jones does not care what Tom Aspinall wants and, in fact, wants to do the complete opposite of what Tom Aspinall wants. If Jon and Tom want the exact same thing, then Jon doesn't want it anymore, and that's how Jon is going to operate. It's one of the most exhausting things that I've ever had to deal with, and I have to respect it. Jon is the master at emotionally and mentally exhausting people, and you can see it in Tom Aspinall a little bit already. He's starting to get tired."
Jones recently bragged about living his best life as Aspinall continues to chomp at the bit. "Bones" is currently filming Season 2 of "ALF Reality," a Russian reality television show resembling "The Ultimate Fighter" where he's coaching opposite fellow UFC star Nate Diaz in Thailand.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UFC 316 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program passes $34 million
NEWARK, N.J. – Fighters from Saturday's UFC 316 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $320,500. The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy. Advertisement UFC 316 took place at Prudential Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. The full UFC 316 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included: Merab Dvalishvili: $42,000 def. Sean O'Malley: $32,000 Kayla Harrison: $32,000 def. Julianna Peña: $42,000 Joe Pyfer: $6,000 def. Kelvin Gastelum: $21,000 Mario Bautista: $11,000 def. Patchy Mix: $4,000 Kevin Holland: $21,000 def. Vicente Luque: $21,000 Waldo Cortes-Acosta: $6,000 def. Serghei Spivac: $11,000 Joshua Van: $6,000 def. Bruno Silva: $6,000 Azamat Murzakanov: $4,500 def. Brendson Ribeiro: $4,500 Wang Cong: $4,500 def. Ariane da Silva: $11,000 Advertisement Andreas Gustafsson: $4,000 def. Khaos Williams: $6,000 Joo Sang Yoo: $4,000 def. Jeka Saragih: $4,500 Quillan Salkilld: $4,000 def. Yanal Ashmouz: $4,500 MarQuel Mederos: $4,000 def. Mark Choinski: $4,000 Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program's payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum's multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000. Advertisement In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials. Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts: Year-to-date total: $3,223,000 2024 total: $8,280,500 2023 total: $8,188,000 2022 total: $8,351,500 2021 total: $6,167,500 Program-to-date total: $34,240,500 This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 316 Promotional Guidelines Compliance: Program tops $34 million
USA Today
18 minutes ago
- USA Today
UFC 316 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program passes $34 million
UFC 316 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Program passes $34 million NEWARK, N.J. – Fighters from Saturday's UFC 316 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $320,500. The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy. UFC 316 took place at Prudential Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. The full UFC 316 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included: Merab Dvalishvili: $42,000 def. Sean O'Malley: $32,000 Kayla Harrison: $32,000 def. Julianna Peña: $42,000 Joe Pyfer: $6,000 def. Kelvin Gastelum: $21,000 Mario Bautista: $11,000 def. Patchy Mix: $4,000 Kevin Holland: $21,000 def. Vicente Luque: $21,000 Waldo Cortes-Acosta: $6,000 def. Serghei Spivac: $11,000 Joshua Van: $6,000 def. Bruno Silva: $6,000 Azamat Murzakanov: $4,500 def. Brendson Ribeiro: $4,500 Wang Cong: $4,500 def. Ariane da Silva: $11,000 Andreas Gustafsson: $4,000 def. Khaos Williams: $6,000 Joo Sang Yoo: $4,000 def. Jeka Saragih: $4,500 Quillan Salkilld: $4,000 def. Yanal Ashmouz: $4,500 MarQuel Mederos: $4,000 def. Mark Choinski: $4,000 Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program's payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum's multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000. In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials. Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts: Year-to-date total: $3,223,000 2024 total: $8,280,500 2023 total: $8,188,000 2022 total: $8,351,500 2021 total: $6,167,500 Program-to-date total: $34,240,500
USA Today
24 minutes ago
- USA Today
Auburn basketball jumps in ESPN's preseason rankings following Tahaad Pettiford's decision
Auburn basketball jumps in ESPN's preseason rankings following Tahaad Pettiford's decision ESPN's Jeff Borzello feels that Auburn will be a strong squad with Tahaad Pettiford in its lineup. In a world without Tahaad Pettiford, the Auburn Tigers looked primed to take a major step back from the success of a Final Four season in 2024-2025. With the sophomore sharpshooter back on board after withdrawing his name from the NBA Draft, Bruce Pearl's team is now talented enough to strive towards replicating last year's run. Many experts across the college basketball world agree, as the Tigers have jumped up early rankings after the news last season's fantastic freshman would "run it back" in 2025-26. One of those experts ESPN's Jeff Borzello, recently tabbed the Tigers as the No. 14 team in the country, which also happens to be fourth in the SEC. The No. 14 Tigers trail the defending champion Florida Gators (No. 2), Kentucky Wildcats (No. 9) and Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 11) among the SEC programs on the list. Alabama (No. 17) and Tennessee (No. 23) are the only other ranked teams from the conference. Three other squads on Auburn's 2025-2026 schedule rank ahead of the Tigers as well, with No. 1 ranked Purdue and last year's runner up Houston (No. 3) rounding out Borzello's trio at the top. Arizona, who the Tigers will begin a home-and-home series with this year, ranks one spot ahead of Auburn, at No. 13. Despite Auburn beating all but one of those teams (Florida) last season, Borzello explains the ranking was due to "Bruce Pearl's roster faces an overhaul" as he cited the sudden departure of Chad Baker-Mazara as a major loss. Still, Pearl's additions of Texas Tech guard Kevin Overton, UCF forward and BIG 12 leading scorer Keyshawn Hall, and Mississippi State forward KeShawn Murphy give Auburn proven, Power 4, big time talent. It is important to note preseason rankings, specifically ones done in June, aren't often accurate. Auburn's ranking at the No. 14 spot should say more about the Tigers ability to reload and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament again than it does indicate a step back. For reference, Bruce Pearl's squad was ranked all the way back at No. 18 in last season's preseason AP Poll. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Brian on Twitter@TheRealBHauch
