It’s onerous to argue in opposition to Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou vying for the highest spot as the very best 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 would possibly suppose, 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 very best fighter within the division undoubtedly deserves to be scrutinized.
“I believe Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound greatest,” Hardy defined when talking to MMA Preventing. “I believe he’s the very best illustration of combined martial arts usually that we’ve ever seen. I believe he’s nonetheless evolving, which is terrifying. However is he the very best present heavyweight on the planet? I don’t suppose so.
“I believe the winner of Aspinall versus Ngannou could be the reply … no disrespect in any strategy to Jon. Present heavyweight champion however not the present greatest heavyweight on the planet. Actually not.”
Pretty much 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 unravel 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 in a different way 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 pace 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 seem like a welterweight that’s blown up in measurement in all the appropriate proportions. That’s what’s scary about Tom Aspinall. What was he on the dimensions? 254 [pounds]? He’s proper on the prime finish of the heavyweight division with no fats on him. You may say the identical factor for Francis Ngannou. So bodily specimens, I might 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 comparable to 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 marvel if he’s received that means within the heavyweight division with somebody as quick as Tom Aspinall and somebody as highly effective as Francis Ngannou. There have been occasions when Stipe [Miocic] landed [on Jones at UFC 309] and I believe if Ngannou lands these pictures, Jon Jones doesn’t get again up.
“I additionally suppose the pace of Tom Aspinall would enable him to land punches in opposition to 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 pictures. I do know clearly he received knocked out by Anthony Joshua however on the similar time, you’re speaking of an elite degree boxer who’s an unbelievable athlete on the similar time. I imply, it’s simply so troublesome to choose one.”
Whereas there’s nonetheless an opportunity that Aspinall may face Jones sooner or later to at the least 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 out a clear minimize alternative for his subsequent opponent with no telling who he would possibly face subsequent.
Ngannou may probably face the winner of the upcoming 2024 PFL Championship when 19-1 Russian Oleg Popov takes on Denis Goltsov nevertheless it’s secure to say both of them could be a large underdog going in opposition to “The Predator.”
Hardy understands the argument working in opposition to Ngannou in terms of degree of competitors however he hopes PFL continues to hunt out the type of expertise that enables the corporate’s largest free agent signing in historical past to at the least preserve a stranglehold on the highest of the heavyweight division.
“That could 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 now we have developing goes to find out a contender. We’ve additionally received the likes of [Vadim] Nemkov within the heavyweight division that may very well be a really attention-grabbing downside.
“‘Reug Reug’ [Oumar Kane] known as Ngannou out, that may be an attention-grabbing 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 might be open to a ‘Reug Reug’ crossover combat, particularly if we may maintain it in Africa. That may be unbelievable.”
