Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones didn’t retire to keep away from preventing Tom Aspinall, says Ilia Topuria.
Britain’s Aspinall was upgraded from interim to undisputed heavyweight champion this week after Jones, 37, introduced his exit from the game.
Jones’ retirement adopted seven months of the American not committing to preventing 32-year-old Aspinall in a unification bout.
Spain’s Topuria, who faces Brazilian Charles Oliveira for the light-weight title at UFC 317 in Las Vegas on Saturday, says Jones didn’t “duck” a battle with Aspinall.
“No, no, no, no, no. Jones fought the perfect of all time. Within the final 10 years he fought the perfect fighters on this planet. He isn’t ducking anybody,” Topuria instructed BBC Sport.
“I believe that he might retire at any time when he needs. He has accomplished superb issues within the sport. He is as an example, the perfect to ever do it. So I believe he took choice. He is the GOAT [greatest of all time].”
