Another very solid UFC event is going down now in the iconic MSG in the Big Apple!
Many people have short term memory when it comes to sports. Everyone is whining that Jon Jones is ducking English heavyweight interim champion Tom Aspinall and I guess their are a few valid points on their side but, I am personally pretty satisfied that two vets with extremely established careers are getting another shot in the spotlight. Stipe may be older but he hasn't fought in literally three and a half years. I think that helps slightly especially considering just how punishing the heavyweight division is.
Stipe and Jones have simply accomplished so much in the sport, this fight ties a lot of loose ends from an MMA math and just a legacy standpoint.
Jon Jones is not the most morally sound or even clean fighter to some. But I still view Jones as the GOAT. I don't think it's a country mile between him and other greats, but he is the greatest by a respectable margin.
Jones fights in the UFC and is a high level professional athlete. IF Jones has cheated he was far from alone and is still probably far from alone. It's a brutal sport with brutal tactics involved at times. Not an excuse but hey I mean, he's still allowed to fight and I really don't think it was ever proven he for sure cheated. I have heard of many tainted supplements in many of these examples with fighters as well. Jones may not be the most morally sound person either but I haven't met many people in this life that are. The guy is the greatest fighter of all time. Not the greatest sweater knitter of all time. The greatest fighter is going to be an intense guy especially since Jones reached such a high level of fame at such a young age.
I am just saying Jones is human. Good bad or ugly nobody can watch Jones and say the guy is not a high level special talent. Watching him is special and I think we will all look back and appreciate his career when it's all said and done.
Stipe is older at 42, but Jones is not a very young man himself anymore either at 37.
Stipe is the most decorated heavyweight fighter the UFC has seen. A potential win over Jones will enhance his career in a massive way. Already considered the greatest heavyweight of all time and then beat Jones? If Stipe wins I hope he retires right after or cashes in on a rematch. Aspinall fans would be a mess LOL. Stipe would impressively also hold wins over Ngannou, DC and Jones. I mean that list would be incredible.
I feel like Jones and Stipe are underdogs in their own way. Jones is considered a GOAT but gets a lot of hate. Stipe is infinitely overlooked. I expect Jones will win but how is a bit of a mystery to me. Stipe is interesting because of his super well roundedness. Underrated boxing and power.
This could be a war! It is history and I'm here for it!
I like Aspinall, and I think he's pretty great too. His time will come and he's doing the right thing by making a lot of noise and refusing to be ignored in the media. Jones vs Aspinall would be massive for sure and I'd be pumped.
The co-main event between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler 2 in the lightweight division also looks awesome. People forget JUST how close Chandler was to knocking Oliveira out three and a half years ago in that championship bout. From that point on Oliveira's whole career changed for the better and he still has a bit of a boogeyman aura about him.
The third to last fight in the men's middleweight division really intrigues me as well, more than I thought it would initially. It is between Scottish fighter Paul Craig and young massive hype train in American Bo Nickal. Nickal is a supremely elite wrestler and Craig is well known for his Jiu-Jitsu. The size difference will be curious as well because Craig was a light heavyweight for a long time and has only been at middleweight for roughly a year or so. Nickal is no small guy but he's definitely an average middleweight, and I could NOT envision Nickal having a great time at light heavyweight. I also got the vibe that Nickal was slightly nervous in the press conference which surprised me and Craig seemed very confident which also sort of surprised me. Very cool matchup I feel.
Jim Miller also JUST won again after his 1000th UFC fight!!! Love to see it.
It's going to be a great night of MMA action the sport will never forget. LET'S GO!!
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