Ali Abdelaziz Claims Jon Jones Missed Out on GOAT Status by Not Fighting Tom Aspinall

Dominance MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz believes Jon Jones was just one fight away from ending the greatest of all time debate once and for all. According to the manager, all the heavyweight champion needed to do was step into the Octagon and defeat interim champion Tom Aspinall.

Jones (28-1, 1 NC) cemented his status as an all-time legend through a dominant reign at light heavyweight before moving up to claim the heavyweight crown. However, his decision to bypass a unification bout against Aspinall left a glaring question mark over his late-career legacy.

A Missed Opportunity to Silence the Critics

Speaking on the matchup that never materialized, Abdelaziz expressed his frustration as both an industry insider and a fan of the sport.

“If Jon Jones went there and beat Tom Aspinall I promise you everybody should shut up and never ever mention Jon's name again,” Abdelaziz said. “But he didn't. He could've, but he didn't, and I'm as a fan be like, why he did not fight Tom.”

For Abdelaziz, taking on Aspinall (15-3, 1 NC) was the ultimate litmus test. The Manchester native tore through the division with blistering hand speed and quick finishes, capturing the interim belt and repeatedly calling for a clash with Jones. Instead, Jones opted for a matchup against veteran former champion Stipe Miocic, leaving Aspinall waiting in the wings and forcing the division into limbo.

While UFC CEO Dana White continuously touts Jones as the undisputed pound-for-pound GOAT, many fans and analysts share Abdelaziz’s sentiment. Fighting a battle-tested legend like Miocic offered nostalgia, but beating a prime, dangerous finisher like Aspinall would have provided undeniable proof of Jones’ supremacy in the modern era.

By skipping the unification bout, Jones left the door open for critics to question whether he avoided the toughest match on the board. In the end, passing on Aspinall leaves one of MMA's most captivating matchups as a massive "what-if," keeping the GOAT debate alive and contentious across the combat sports world.