Latest news with #UFC235
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
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.
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michael Bisping reacts to Anthony Smith's loss in UFC retirement fight: 'He's won at life'
Michael Bisping reacts to Anthony Smith's loss in UFC retirement fight: 'He's won at life' Michael Bisping commends Anthony Smith for the career he's had in the UFC. Smith (37-22 MMA, 13-12 UFC) announced his retirement after a first-round TKO loss to Zhang Mingyang in Saturday's UFC on ESPN 66 co-main event at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. "Lionheart" challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title at UFC 235 in 2019 but fell short in a unanimous decision loss. He was struck with an illegal knee during the fight but opted to continue over claiming a likely disqualification win. Smith didn't walk away with his hand raised in his final fight, but his former podcast host and friend, Bisping, thinks he has a lot to be proud of. "That's the nature of the beast, man," Bisping said on his YouTube channel. "You stick around long enough, you become chewed up, you get spat out, and the next generation makes a name off you. Congrats to Anthony Smith on a great career. All the best in retirement. He's going to have a great career as an analyst. He's a tremendous talker, he's an awesome person, great father and husband. He's a solid guy. He's won at life." Smith has served as a desk analyst for ESPN on numerous occasions, and UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that it will continue being the plan for him moving forward. "That's a tough way to go out, but he's a great guy, obviously has an unbelievable story, and I'm glad we ended up with him here," White said during the UFC on ESPN 66 post-fight news conference. "He's a good human being, and obviously he has a career now with us not fighting."
