Tom Aspinall on Dana White, Khalil Rountree Jr. blasts critics & Jake Paul and Muhammad Ali?

As a long-time combat sports enthusiast with over two decades of watching and analyzing fights under my belt, I’ve seen it all – from legendary champions to questionable matchups.

In this fresh, daily feature, I will dissect news stories from the realm of combat sports and share my insights with you. Make sure to visit us each morning to catch the day’s most significant or enigmatic updates along with my perspective on these topics.

Tom Aspinall reacts to Dana White’s praise of Jon Jones

Tom Aspinall has been quietly observing as UFC president Dana White extols the virtues of UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Now, he’s responded to those remarks. “In my opinion, I’m the top heavyweight in the game,” Aspinall stated on the “Believe You Me” podcast. “I’m not receiving the recognition I deserve. They’re keeping the belt as a hostage, mate, and Jon Jones is enjoying it. He revels in the fact that Dana White brings up his name in every interview… you discuss bantamweights, and Dana White swiftly shifts the focus to how exceptional Jon Jones is. I can’t help but think, ‘If he’s that good, let’s square off.'”

It’s turned into a common amusing observation that Dana is consistently defending and backing Jones. Of course, everyone has their own opinions, including Jones on this topic. However, Aspinall does make a valid point. If Jones truly is as exceptional as White claims, he should be squaring off against Aspinall since Aspinall holds the interim title. In my opinion, this ongoing storyline of avoiding Aspinall (whether it’s factual or not) could potentially harm Jones’ legacy in the future. Add to that the confusion surrounding the Francis Ngannou situation, and it might negatively impact his entire heavyweight championship journey.

Khalil Rountree Jr. says critics of his fight with Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira is scheduled to defend his title against Khalil Rountree Jr., a fact that has left many fans displeased. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Rountree Jr. addressed the fan reaction. “I comprehend that people are unhappy,” he said. “Oh well, it’s not my concern. For one thing, it’s not my issue – they hand me the opportunity, I accept it. Let them handle their own issues. Let them address it with the UFC. If fans aren’t satisfied with this match-up, I question whether they can truly be considered fans.”

I absolutely love this match-up and I said so the day it was announced. Sure, Magomed Ankalaev “deserves” the fight next due to his rankings but we all know that fight would not be competative or exciting and the one with Roundtree Jr. will be. Sometimes it’s ok to go out of order in the rankings if it makes for a better fight for the fans. Sorry, Ankalaev.

Jake Paul compares himself to Muhammad Ali

At a recent pre-fight gathering, Jake Paul claimed he’s the equivalent of Muhammad Ali in boxing. He added, “Criticism and controversy always follow those who stand out. I’ve shown everyone they were wrong. You might recall that Muhammad Ali was initially disliked and criticized before he became popular. So, I guess you could say I’m the anti-hero, and people will appreciate me eventually when they understand my impact on boxing and my true character. However, I don’t let it bother me because, at the pinnacle, everyone wants a piece of you to bring you down. That’s just how the game works.”

To be honest, while I appreciate the sentiment, comparing someone’s boxing skills to Muhammad Ali’s feels a bit far-fetched. It’s not that I’m dismissing the comparison outright, but I believe Ali was held in such high regard that any comparison risks falling short.

2024-08-20 19:43