Anthony Smith believes Jon Jones is toying with Tom Aspinall.

For well over a year now, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been chasing a unification bout against Jones for the undisputed heavyweight title. But despite Aspinall’s repeated calls for the bout, it has yet to come to fruition. Aspinall even recently surpassed the record as the longest reigning interim champion in UFC history, and all this waiting around is clearly starting to get to him. And that’s exactly what Jones wants, at least, so says Anthony Smith.

“I have a lot of love and respect for Tom Aspinall, but if I’m Tom, I’m probably going to be a little quieter,” Smith said on UFC Live. “I think that he’s poking, and he’s prodding, and he’s trying to attack Jon’s ego a little bit, and force Jon into this ego competition where Jon says, ‘I’m not afraid of you! I want to go fight now!’ Jon is not going to do that. Jon Jones, in every single part of his life, has to be in control of it. Jon is a master manipulator, and he’s a master at the mind games that are behind this sport. He’s been doing it for so many years, against the best guys in the world.”

Smith certainly has some experience with Jones. “Bones” is one of the most decorated champions in UFC history, and among those accolades is a light heavyweight title defense over Smith in 2019. And given his experience, Smith believes Aspinall should change his approach, because he’s playing right into Jones’s hands.

“So I understand that Tom Aspinall has this fighter mindset where he wants to say, ‘I’m better than you, and you think you’re better than me, so I’m going to keep attacking that.’ Jon doesn’t care about any of that,” Smith said. “The person who cares the least in every negotiation wins. 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.

“It’s one of the most exhausting things that I’ve ever had to deal with, and I have to respect it. Jon is the master at emotionally and mentally exhausting people, and you can see it in Tom Aspinall already. He’s starting to get tired.”

---

TOP STORIES

Results. Michael Morales tears through Gilbert Burns in UFC Vegas 106 main event.

Statement. Gilbert Burns issues statement after loss at UFC Vegas 106.

Bluff. Ilia Topuria tells Islam Makhachev to ‘get in line’ if he returns to lightweight.

GOAT. Jose Aldo officially retires, says no fight would convince him to return to UFC: ‘Never again.’

Brothers. Logan Paul won’t fight Jake Paul ‘unless it’s MMA,’ reveals why he failed at booking his brother against KSI.

Challenge. Sean Strickland issues challenge to Belal Muhammad to ‘sack the f*ck up,’ reveals recent fight offer.

Do Bronx. Aljamain Sterling: ‘It’s a bad night’ for Charles Oliveira if Ilia Topuria finds his chin.

---

VIDEO STEW

UFC Vegas 106 Post Show.

All the finishes from UFC Vegas 106.

Holly Holm says she’s down to box Ronda Rousey.

Kayla Harrison.

---

FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR

On To the Next One.

---

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Here we go again.

I mean, I’d watch.

Patchy Mix is a nice addition.

Yes. Yes, he is.

As a man who was cageside for this one, it’s the best fight I’ve ever seen in person, and one of the greatest of all time.

Damn, Money Moicano firing shots at Michael Chandler.

---

FINAL THOUGHTS

... Or, Jon doesn’t want to fight Tom Aspinall because the risk isn’t worth the reward. But if the UFC isn’t going to make him give up the belt, then why should he? If I’m Jon, I’m continuing to “live my best life” until the UFC either pays me a king’s ransom or grows up and strips me. They seem to have no intention of doing right by Tom Aspinall, but that’s not Jon’s problem.

---

EXIT POLL

---

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and like us on Facebook.