Anthony Smith explains how Tom Aspinall is being played by 'master manipulator' Jon Jones

Anthony Smith thinks UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is playing mind games with Tom Aspinall.

It’s been a long wait for interim champ Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who’s yet to get his title-unification bout with Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC). Although UFC CEO Dana White is confident that the matchup materializes this year, Smith advises Aspinall to stop provoking Jones.

Aspinall has continuously accused Jones of ducking him, and Smith thinks his approach will only continue further delaying the matchup. Smith has first-hand experience fighting Jones after lost a unanimous decision in their 2019 light heavyweight title fight at UFC 235.

“I have a lot of love and respect for Tom Aspinall, but if I’m Tom, I’m probably going to be a little quieter,” Smith told ESPN. “I think that he’s poking, and he’s prodding, and he’s trying to attack Jon Jones’ ego a little bit, and force Jon into this ego competition where Jon says, ‘I’m not afraid of you. I want to go fight now.’ Jon is not going to do that. Jon Jones, in every single part of his life, has to be in control of it. Jon is a master manipulator, and he is a master at mind games that are behind this sport. He’s been doing it for years against the best guys in the world. I understand Aspinall has this fighter mindset where he wants to say, ‘I’m better than you, and you think you’re better than me, so I’m going to keep attacking that.’

“Jon doesn’t care about any of that. The person who cares the least in every negotiation, wins. Jon Jones does not care what Tom Aspinall wants and, in fact, wants to do the complete opposite of what Tom Aspinall wants. If Jon and Tom want the exact same thing, then Jon doesn’t want it anymore, and that’s how Jon is going to operate. It’s one of the most exhausting things that I’ve ever had to deal with, and I have to respect it. Jon is the master at emotionally and mentally exhausting people, and you can see it in Tom Aspinall a little bit already. He’s starting to get tired.”

Jones recently bragged about living his best life as Aspinall continues to chomp at the bit. “Bones” is currently filming Season 2 of “ALF Reality,” a Russian reality television show resembling “The Ultimate Fighter” where he’s coaching opposite fellow UFC star Nate Diaz in Thailand. 

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC analyst: Jon Jones a ‘master manipulator’ in Tom Aspinall saga

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