Anthony Smith: ‘Jon Jones can do whatever the f*ck he wants,’ shouldn’t be stripped of UFC title

LAS VEGAS – Anthony Smith disagrees with those calling for Jon Jones to be stripped of the UFC heavyweight title.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) was forced to pull out of his first title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 when he tore his pectoral muscle. The promotion booked an interim title fight between Tom Aspinall and Sergei Aspinall instead, where Aspinall claimed the interim belt by first-round knockout.

With Jones expected to be sidelined for months, Aspinall said he should be stripped of his belt. But Smith, a former opponent of Jones and analyst for ESPN, says an all-time great like “Bones” has earned the right to keep his title.