“He’a a Master at Getting Under People’s Skin”: Anthony Smith’s Take on Jon Jones’ Antics vs. Tom Aspinall Backed by MMA Veteran Referee

Tom Aspinall has been fighting a ghost. Not in the Octagon, but in his head. During a recent chat with Demetrious Johnson, the interim UFC heavyweight champion confessed, ‘Right, just be ready and we’ll let you know’, it’s kind of difficult mentally.” Since claiming the interim belt at UFC 295 in November 2023, he’s been chasing Jon Jones. Yet, there’s no sign on the horizon of the bout materializing anytime soon.

And when a fighter says waiting is worse than coming back from blowing out a knee in front of millions? That’s telling. But could it all be part of ‘Bones’s master plan? Recently retired light-heavyweight contender Anthony Smith thinks so. And legendary referee, ‘Big’ John McCarthy, agrees. Let’s take a look at what they had to say!

John McCarthy adds his voice to Anthony Smith’s take on Jon Jones, “mentally exhausting” Tom Aspinall

Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith faced off against Jon Jones at UFC 235 in 2019. As such, he has a unique insight into the undisputed heavyweight champion’s mindset. Smith recently claimed, “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. That’s how Jon is going to operate… Jon is the master at emotionally and mentally exhausting people.”

And when John McCarthy and his co-host Josh Thomson heard the above on a recent episode of the ‘Weighing In’ podcast, they couldn’t help but side with Smith’s take. And with Aspinall’s recent emotional fatigue on full display, Jones might already be ahead on the scorecards without throwing a punch.

But is he doing this on purpose? According to McCarthy, “Especially and it gets down to this, you have to learn, whenever you’re in the public eye, and everything , you’ve got to learn to not give a s— what anyone thinks. And if you do, it’s going to affect you and Jon is a master at not giving a f— what anybody… I don’t care who says it, in the end he doesn’t give a damn.”

According to McCarthy, Jones only plays to one audience: the UFC. As long as he keeps the promotion and Dana White updated, McCarthy claimed ‘Bones’ is “going to play this out the way I want”. But it’s not just what Jones is doing, it’s how he’s doing it.

The veteran referee added, “He is, you know, and you can look at the different fights he’s had and the different animosities with certain fighters, he’s a master at getting under people’s skin. He’s good at it.”

March 4, 2023, Las Vegas, NV, LAS VEGAS, NV, USA: LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 4: Jon Jones prepares to fight Ciryl Gane in their Heavyweight fight during the UFC 285 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 4, 2023 in Las Vegas, NV, USA. Las Vegas, NV USA – ZUMAp175 20230304_zsa_p175_246 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex

If you don’t believe him, just take a look at the rivalry between Jones and Daniel Cormier, which has cemented its place in MMA lore. Now, the fans have grown restless. Anthony Smith sees it. John McCarthy sees it. Even other fighters feel it. And while Aspinall has already defended his interim title, the man he’s supposed to unify it against seems unfazed by ticking clocks or rising tensions.

And as Smith warned, “It’s one of the most exhausting things that I’ve ever had to deal with, and I have to respect it.” But not too long ago, Tom Aspinall didn’t sound exhausted. He sounded inspired.

Aspinall once wanted to have the same “confidence” as Jones

Before the war of silence, before the supposed mind games, back in early 2023, Tom Aspinall held Jon Jones in the highest regard. In a BBC Sport column written just before Jones returned to capture the vacant heavyweight belt against Ciryl Gane, Aspinall couldn’t hide his awe.

Jones wasn’t a rival then; he was a role model, as Aspinall wrote, “Jones is so free when he fights, his fight IQ is far superior to anyone he’s ever faced.” That wasn’t some throwaway praise. He continued, “His confidence is off the scale and that’s what I’m trying to achieve myself, to have that confidence where you just know you’re miles better than everyone else.”

Fast forward to 2025, and the same admiration has turned into frustration. The dream fight has become a waiting game. And that once-inspirational confidence? It’s become a wall that Aspinall can’t punch through, at least not yet.

Jon Jones, meanwhile, continues to operate on his own frequency, one that seems tuned to confusion, not clarity. So here we are with respect turning to resentment, admiration hardening into angst. The question now is, how long can Tom Aspinall keep chasing a shadow? Will Jones truly break him before they even step into the cage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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