Whether a title unification bout between heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall will happen is anyone’s guess at this point.
Aspinall is all in. Jones has made conflicting comments adding to the speculation while UFC CEO Dana White said to expect an announcement soon. Fighters and analysts have given their opinions and you can add 2015 UFC Hall of Fame inductee Bas Rutten to the list.
Rutten believes the fight promotion and Jones will come to terms and the highly anticipated match will eventually happen.
“He (Jones) should take the fight. I think eventually he will take the fight,” Rutten told Submission Radio. “He also knows it’s going to be a very tough fight. Aspinall is a very impressive fighter.”
“Jon is one of those guys that simply wants to be the best,” Rutten continued. “And you push the buttons long enough, I know Jon is going to do it because he’s a competitor. He has to do it, for himself…
“He has to do it. He has to do it, and eventually I think he will do it because otherwise there will always be the doubt. Was he afraid of him? And that’s the one thing fighters do not want to retire with. I can guarantee that. I think it’s better to retire on a loss. I’m not going to say he’s going to lose. I’m not saying that at all, but I think it’s better to do that than to not take a fight because then you always have that over your head and eventually that’s going to hurt you. It will probably hurt you when you’re too old to take the fight.”
