“I agree, absolutely agree with him,” the Brit said on another edition of The MMA Hour program. “I have nothing but respect for Jon and I respect him more than most people. I respect what Jon Jones has done in the sport. It’s unbelievable. I appreciate his advice. I’m not going to let you hold me back. Like I said, it doesn’t matter what anyone else does – this is my journey, this is my plan. Everybody has their ups and downs, and this is a tough division where anything can happen at any moment.”
“I’ve openly said I don’t think it’s right what’s going on with Jon Jones. I don’t think the UFC’s decision is right, but that’s just my opinion that I’ve expressed. I respect their opinion and their decision, and I respect everything Jon Jones and the UFC have done and will do. A lot of people online tell me, ‘Tom, you need to stop crying,’ and I’m like, ‘You know, really – I should stop doing that. They’re right!” I should stop crying, move forward, move on with my career and prove that I’m the best. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Recall that Jon Jones was scheduled to make his title defense last November, but tore a pectoral muscle and pulled out of his bout with Stipe Miocic, while Tom Aspinall won the interim championship belt at UFC 295 by knocking out Sergey Pavlovic in the first round.
According to the UFC’s plan, Jones will make a postponed fight with Miopechich once he recovers from two surgeries, while Aspinall will make an interim title defense against one of the division’s top fighters.