It’s arduous to argue towards Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou vying for the highest spot as the most effective heavyweight within the sport however who is definitely the highest fighter in that division proper now?
Veteran analyst Dan Hardy admits it’s a a lot more durable query to reply than you may assume, particularly when factoring within the distinctive expertise every one brings right into a combat. Whereas Jones presently holds the “undisputed” UFC heavyweight title following wins over Ciryl Gane and Stipe Miocic, Hardy argues that his general greatness can’t be questions however his standing as the most effective fighter within the division positively deserves to be scrutinized.
“I believe Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound greatest,” Hardy defined when talking to MMA Combating. “I believe he’s the most effective illustration of blended martial arts usually that we’ve ever seen. I believe he’s nonetheless evolving, which is terrifying. However is he the most effective present heavyweight on the planet? I don’t assume so.
“I believe the winner of Aspinall versus Ngannou could be the reply … no disrespect in any technique to Jon. Present heavyweight champion however not the present greatest heavyweight on the planet. Actually not.”
Nearly as good as Jones has been all through his profession, he’s solely spent two fights at heavyweight and Hardy is aware of that fighters like Aspinall and Ngannou current issues he simply hasn’t handled but since altering divisions.
Hardy believes each Aspinall and Ngannou possess a selected set of expertise that make them uniquely troublesome puzzles to resolve at heavyweight, which is why he places them on the prime of his private rankings.
“You play these three fights out in any totally different order, in any totally different situation, whether or not it’s the octagon or the SmartCage or a boxing ring or no matter, they play out otherwise each time,” Hardy mentioned. “The truth is Tom Aspinall is the quickest out of all three of them. That makes him very, very harmful at heavyweight as a result of velocity kills at heavyweight.
“The large distinction when athletes began to enter the heavyweight division, the likes of Andrei Arlovski again within the day, you have a look at these guys they usually appear to be a welterweight that’s blown up in measurement in all the correct proportions. That’s what’s scary about Tom Aspinall. What was he on the size? 254 [pounds]? He’s proper on the prime finish of the heavyweight division with no fats on him. You’ll be able to say the identical factor for Francis Ngannou. So bodily specimens, I’d say Jon Jones is backside of the rung.”
That mentioned, Hardy credit Jones for his immense quantity of expertise and combat IQ however typically even that isn’t sufficient when coping with a quick, highly effective heavyweight like Aspinall or a human wrecking machine resembling Ngannou, who can put anyone’s lights out with a single punch.
“The creativity of Jon Jones and the knowledge, the combat IQ, that reigns supreme,” Hardy mentioned. “I simply surprise if he’s acquired that means within the heavyweight division with somebody as quick as Tom Aspinall and somebody as highly effective as Francis Ngannou. There have been instances when Stipe [Miocic] landed [on Jones at UFC 309] and I believe if Ngannou lands these photographs, Jon Jones doesn’t get again up.
“I additionally assume the velocity of Tom Aspinall would enable him to land punches towards Jon Jones and Ngannou that each of these guys wouldn’t see coming and wouldn’t have the ability to cease. The query is would he have the ability to do this type of injury to knock them out. I don’t know. I’ve seen Francis take some massive photographs. I do know clearly he acquired knocked out by Anthony Joshua however on the identical time, you’re speaking of an elite stage boxer who’s an unimaginable athlete on the identical time. I imply, it’s simply so troublesome to select one.”
Whereas there’s nonetheless an opportunity that Aspinall might face Jones sooner or later to a minimum of reply a type of questions, Ngannou stays the odd man out as a result of he fights within the PFL.
After demolishing Renan Ferreira in October, Ngannou is as soon as once more with no clear minimize selection for his subsequent opponent with no telling who he may face subsequent.
Ngannou might doubtlessly face the winner of the upcoming 2024 PFL Championship when 19-1 Russian Oleg Popov takes on Denis Goltsov but it surely’s secure to say both of them could be a large underdog going towards “The Predator.”
Hardy understands the argument working towards Ngannou in terms of stage of competitors however he hopes PFL continues to hunt out the type of expertise that enables the corporate’s greatest free agent signing in historical past to a minimum of preserve a stranglehold on the highest of the heavyweight division.
“That may be a actual problem and that’s above my pay grade with me simply being the pinnacle of fighter ops for Europe,” Hardy mentioned about Ngannou’s subsequent opponent. “Clearly the heavyweight championship we’ve developing goes to find out a contender. We’ve additionally acquired the likes of [Vadim] Nemkov within the heavyweight division that might be a really fascinating drawback.
“‘Reug Reug’ [Oumar Kane] referred to as Ngannou out, that might be an fascinating cross-promotion with ONE Championship and that’s me talking as a fan. I don’t make these calls but when it was as much as me, I’d be open to a ‘Reug Reug’ crossover combat, particularly if we might maintain it in Africa. That may be unimaginable.”
