How Jon Jones Could Overcome Tom Aspinall’s Striking, According To First Man To Defeat Aspinall

Stuart Austin, the first fighter to hand Tom Aspinall a loss, recently shared his thoughts on how Jon Jones could beat the interim UFC heavyweight champion. Austin’s experience with Aspinall dates back to 2015 when he submitted the now-UFC star in the first round with a heel hook during their encounter at BAMMA 21. Since that fight, Aspinall has greatly improved his skill set, especially his striking, but Austin believes that Jones could exploit the British fighter's weaknesses to gain victory.

Austin, reflecting on his victory over Aspinall, discussed how wrestling and clinch work are likely the key areas where Jones can dominate. He noted that while Aspinall has become a better all-around fighter, especially with his distance management and MMA skills, his wrestling remains untested at the highest levels. “If you want to look back at me, I outwrestled him,” Austin explained. He suggested that Jones’ superior wrestling and clinch game would serve him well, as Aspinall’s striking ability, which has earned him three consecutive first-round knockouts, could be a major threat in a stand-up battle.

Looking at Jones’ wrestling pedigree, Austin believes that taking the fight to the ground or using clinch control could neutralize Aspinall’s striking and tilt the fight in Jones' favor. “I think clinch and wrestling would probably be the way to go for Jon,” Austin stated, emphasizing that if the fight stays striking-focused, Aspinall is likely to come out on top.

As the speculation grows about whether Jon Jones will finally face Aspinall, the potential clash between the two top-tier heavyweights could lead to a thrilling matchup. While Jones has been criticized for not yet unifying the heavyweight titles, his decision to face Aspinall remains unclear. Will Jones rise to the challenge, or will Aspinall continue his dominant run?