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One of the most famous fighters of today, Khabib Nurmagomedov, has expressed his opinion on the situation between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. The Dagestani believes that it will be very difficult for Tom to reach the level that Jones has achieved during his career.
The legendary former UFC lightweight champion believes that only when Aspinall ends his career will the audience and fans be able to realistically assess the difference between the two fighters.
Khabib also addressed Jon's recent retirement, which, as is known, was short-lived because Jones quickly changed his mind after learning about the planned UFC event at the White House.
On the Hustle Show podcast, when asked if Jones should have taken the Aspinall fight before he retired, he said:
"He's 38, isn't he? Actually, he's long gone, let's be honest. How many fights has he had in the last five years? One or two in five years? Even those last welterweight fights against Thiago Santos and Dominick Reyes were very controversial."
He added:
"You know, his prime is obviously behind him. Then he fought Ciryl Gane. I think they gave him a lot of money. And that's it. Everyone has their prime, and his was long gone."
Khabib vs Aspinall
When asked if he should have accepted the fight with Aspinall, Khabib said:
"So, whether he should have fought Aspinall or not, that may always be a question, but let's look at things from a different angle. When Aspinall finishes (his career), when they both retire, then people will realize their true levels."
He concluded:
"It will be very difficult for Aspinall to reach Jones' level of legacy, but at this point, Aspinall is the best heavyweight in the world, in my opinion."
Khabib especially pointed out that respect for legends and their careers must come first. He emphasized that young fighters, like Aspinall, should learn from more experienced ones and that patience is key in building a top career.
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