Jon Jones' only defeat in 30 fights was a disqualification in 2009 Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones did not retire to avoid fighting Tom Aspinall, says Ilia Topuria. Britain's Aspinall wasupgraded from interimto undisputed heavyweight champion this week after Jones, 37, announced his exit from the sport. Jones' retirement followed seven months of the American not committing to fighting 32-year-old Aspinall in a unification bout. Spain's Topuria, who faces Brazilian Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title at UFC 317 in Las Vegas on Saturday, says Jones did not "duck" a fight with Aspinall. "No, no, no, no, no. Jones fought the best of all time. In the last 10 years he fought the best fighters in the world. He's not ducking anyone," Topuria told BBC Sport. "I think that he could retire whenever he wants. He has done amazing things in the sport. He's let's say, the best to ever do it. So I think he took a good decision. He's the GOAT [greatest of all time]." Jones is a former light-heavyweight champion and widely considered one of, if not the best, MMA fighters of all time. He has an overall record of 28 wins, one loss and one no-contest, and holds the record for most title-fight wins in the UFC with 16. But his achievements in the octagon have sometimes beenovershadowed by his chequered pastoutside it. Just hours after confirming his retirement this week, it emerged theAlbuquerque Police had charged Jones,externalwith leaving the scene of an accident that happened in February. The report says a woman involved in the car accident claims Jones was driving her vehicle during the crash, before fleeing the scene on foot. Jones' attorney Christopher Dodd later released a statement saying he was "stunned" by the charge and denied the American was involved. "Jon was not driving that night, he wasn't in the car. It appears that an intoxicated woman used a false allegation against Jon to avoid being arrested for DWI [drinking while intoxicated]," the statement read. In 2015, Jones pleaded guilty to his part in a hit-and-run which injured a pregnant woman, while last year he reached a pre-adjudication agreement for two misdemeanour charges against him to be dismissed after an altercation with an anti-doping officer. Jones also served doping bans in 2016 and 2017, though the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) said it was confident he did not deliberately use performance-enhancing drugs.
'Best ever' Jones did not 'duck' Aspinall - Topuria
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Ilia Topuria Defends Jon Jones, Dismisses Retirement as Evasion of Aspinall Fight"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Jon Jones, a prominent figure in mixed martial arts and former UFC heavyweight champion, has confirmed his retirement from the sport, a decision that has generated significant discussion among fans and analysts alike. Ilia Topuria, a fellow fighter preparing for a title bout against Charles Oliveira, has publicly defended Jones, asserting that he did not retire to avoid a potential matchup with Tom Aspinall, who has recently been elevated from interim to undisputed heavyweight champion. Topuria emphasized Jones's legacy, highlighting his remarkable career and record of 28 wins, one loss, and one no-contest, alongside a record for the most title-fight victories in UFC history. He referred to Jones as the 'greatest of all time' (GOAT) and suggested that the decision to retire was made on his own terms, rather than as an act of evasion against Aspinall.
However, Jones's retirement comes amid renewed scrutiny due to his tumultuous history outside the octagon. Shortly after announcing his departure from MMA, reports surfaced regarding a charge against him for leaving the scene of a car accident that occurred earlier this year. The details indicate that a woman involved in the incident claimed Jones was driving her vehicle at the time of the crash, but Jones's attorney has vehemently denied these allegations, asserting that Jones was not in the car and suggesting that the accusations stemmed from the woman's attempt to avoid her own legal troubles. This incident adds to a history of legal issues for Jones, including a guilty plea for a hit-and-run in 2015 and previous doping violations. Despite these controversies, his fighting prowess and achievements have solidified his status as a legendary figure in the sport, leaving fans and analysts to ponder what his retirement means for the future of the heavyweight division and his legacy in MMA.
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