Tom Aspinall seems to have found his way into the head of Jon Jones, according to one boxing world champion.
Undisputed super-middleweight boxing world champion Savannah Marshall is making her transition to the MMA cage next month as the headliner for PFL Europe in Newcastle. And she has been training with Aspinall as she prepares for her first bout in the cage.
The pair both have boxing backgrounds, and Aspinall is helping to bring his fellow Brit into the MMA world where she is chasing long-time boxing rival Claressa Shields. Meanwhile, the UFC star is interim heavyweight champion, but looks to be miles away from a unification as Jones eyes multiple other fights.
Jon Jones told his tweets prove Tom Aspinall is a ‘real threat’
Marshall is not one for regular social media use or trash talking, but occasionally checks in on Instagram and X during training camp. And she says she has noticed that whenever she sees Jones online, he is tweeting about Aspinall and how little he deserves a title shot.
“One thing I’ve noticed is that it seems like Jon Jones is always posting about Tom,” Marshall told BloodyElbow in an exclusive chat. “He’s saying things like reasons why he wouldn’t give Tom the opportunity.
“A couple of times I’ve went on and seen posts like that and it’s beginning to come across like he does think he’s a real threat now.”
Boxing world champion explains what makes Tom Aspinall so dangerous
Marshall is renowned as one of the great women’s boxers of her era, and is now one of the rare fighters to cross over from the ring to the cage. Aspinall went the other way during his early career, before finding his way to the UFC where he has steamrolled through the heavyweight division.
Asked if Aspinall is the best heavyweight in the world, Marshall replied: “100 per cent. Training so close to him I can see why, for a man like him to have fast twitch muscle fibres like he does is incredible.
“Honestly he is just so fast, his hand speed, his reactions, he’s just phenomenal. His movement, which you don’t see a lot at heavyweights, is different.”
Jon Jones dismisses Tom Aspinall world title hopes despite interim belt
Since Jones won his heavyweight title at UFC 285 in March of last year, Aspinall has landed two knockouts within 90 seconds and earned himself the interim title. But even with a defence on the horizon this summer at UFC 304, he seems to be no closer to earning a shot at the undisputed belt.
Jones is already due to face Stipe Miocic, and is now claiming that his next defence will be against light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. The Brazilian has already won gold at two weights, and is eyeing a chance at an unprecedented third world title.
And the current heavyweight champion feels that is a more compelling prospect than unifying his belt with Aspinall. The Brit is still on the rise as a main event star, while Pereira has headlined pay-per-view events including UFC 300 and multiple nights at Madison Square Garden.
“It would be absolutely massive,” Jones said of a fight with Pereira. “A guy with a chance to be three division champion and a goat versus the actual goat. Same age, different strengths.
“No one can argue that that would be the biggest fight in MMA history. There’s absolutely no fight that generates a payday like that. Marketing would be insane.”
Savannah Marshall faces Mirela Vargas at PFL Europe: Newcastle on June 8. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster