MMA
Heavyweight Tom Aspinall issues warning to Jon Jones ahead of UFC 285
Watch UFC 285 live on ESPN+ PPV (US only)
Britain's Tom Aspinall has issued a warning to former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones ahead of his return at UFC 285 on Saturday night.
Jones will be making his first appearance in the Octagon for three years when he takes on Ciryl Gane for the vacant UFC heavyweight title, but when discussing the fight in his column for BBC Sport, Aspinall made it clear that the American needs to be wary of the dangers that exist in the division.
'Jon Jones is a master, but heavyweights need to be ready for anything. You're always one punch away from disaster,' Aspinall wrote.
'If Jones has piled on as much as 30lbs, then it could have an effect. I want to see how that carries over to his movement and cardio. I think Jones can definitely do it. I'm not sure that he will, I'm saying he can - there's a big difference.
'The thing about the heavyweight division is it's completely different, it's almost got its own rules in comparison to the other divisions.
'Sometimes it doesn't really matter how technically superior you are to the other guy or how much fitter or stronger you are or how much smarter you are.
'Sometimes it takes just one punch and that's it. And that goes across the all divisions, but I think it's even more apparent at heavyweight. You're one punch away from complete disaster.'
Aspinall will have an eager eye on Saturday's fight. He will be looking to re-assert himself into the title picture after recovering from a knee injury which required surgery last July.
Fans in Germany, Austria and Italy can watch UFC events live on DAZN, and DAZN subscribers in most parts of the world can also enjoy a multitude of Professional Fighters League (PFL) events live, including the launch of the PFL Europe series beginning March 25 in Newcastle.
