Tom Aspinall already considers himself the perfect heavyweight on the planet, however don’t anticipate him to get into any arguments about his standing within the pound-for-pound rankings.
Forward of his interim title protection in opposition to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, Aspinall addressed UFC CEO Dana White always touting Jon Jones as the perfect pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. Jones at present holds the UFC heavyweight title after only one struggle within the division, however his legacy was constructed because the longest reigning gentle heavyweight champion in UFC historical past.
Outdoors of a disqualification loss for throwing unlawful elbows, Jones’ résumé is ideal and he’s been preventing on the highest degree within the UFC for the previous 16 years. That’s all spectacular, however Aspinall nonetheless has no concept the way it equates to a pound-for-pound rating for Jones — or for anyone else, for that matter.
“What is that this pound-for-pound bullshit?” Aspinall mentioned throughout UFC 304 media day. “It’s a load of garbage. It simply doesn’t even make sense. Don’t get me began on that shit. It’s similar to, how will you have a pound-for-pound [ranking]? What does that [mean]?”
Reality be advised, there’s no precise definition for the pound-for-pound rankings, so Aspinall makes a legitimate argument.
For some, pound-for-pound successfully simply means the perfect fighter on the planet no matter weight class. There’s additionally an argument made that the highest pound-for-pound fighters needs to be those that have achieved essentially the most throughout a number of divisions.
Others outline pound-for-pound as a check of expertise, which mainly boils right down to if all fighters have been matched up in opposition to one another on the similar measurement and weight, who could be the perfect?
It’s that closing argument that Aspinall bumps up in opposition to essentially the most.
“Does that imply if everybody’s the identical measurement?” Aspinall mentioned. “So how will you evaluate Demetrious Johnson’s type to Brock Lesnar’s type and say in the event that they’re the identical? Like, they’ve bought fully completely different attributes.
“I’ve bought a bulldog, proper? It’s like saying if my bulldog had a extremely lengthy neck, who would win [in a fight] a giraffe or the bulldog? It’s absolute bullshit. How are you going to even evaluate it? It’s a load of garbage.”
All through historical past, heavyweights have usually struggled to get recognition within the pound-for-pound rankings as a result of hardly ever does any fighter keep on high of that division for very lengthy, however that additionally speaks to the risks that come together with that weight class.
Previous to UFC 304 struggle week, Blaydes spoke about heavyweights nearly being graded on a unique curve than athletes from each different division as a result of inherent dangers that comes together with dealing with the toughest hitting fighters within the sport.
Aspinall tends to agree. He is aware of heavyweights don’t get as a lot credit score as well-rounded combined martial artists, however he additionally is aware of some stereotypes concerning the large boys are literally correct.
“We’re undoubtedly getting higher when it comes to ability,” Aspinall mentioned of the heavyweights. “However I believe so far as guys who truly are good in all points of MMA, I believe there’s most likely seven or eight of us who’re like elite degree at MMA.
“The opposite guys are extra like guys who may knock you out, and that’s actually it. Heavyweight MMA type of has its personal guidelines in that regard. In every other division, you must be absolutely expert in all places; the place, within the heavyweight division, there’s nonetheless guys knocking round who they only have to hit you as soon as however they’re not likely nice in all places else.”
