MMA News

Tag: Tom Aspinall

  • Watch UFC 321 Press Conference Video Featuring Aspinall, Gane, Jandiroba, Dern, And More (9 a.m. ET)

    Watch UFC 321 Press Conference Video Featuring Aspinall, Gane, Jandiroba, Dern, And More (9 a.m. ET)

    UFC 321 is just a couple of days away, featuring a pair of title fights headlining the show. Time to stir the pot more and gain more hype for UFC 321, courtesy of a good ol’ fashion question-and-answer session.

    The 11th UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, October 25.

    UFC 321 will be headlined by Tom Aspinall defending the UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane.

    The co-main event will see a new UFC women’s strawweight champion crowned when Virna Jandiroba rematches Mackenzie Dern.

    The rest of the main card features a bantamweight battle between Umar Nurmagomedov and Mario Bautista, a heavyweight title eliminator featuring Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida, and a light heavyweight showdown as Aleksandar Rakic takes on Azamat Murzakanov.

    Watch The UFC 321: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Pre-Fight Press Conference

    As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.

    Check out a live stream of the presser below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 9 AM ET.

  • Tom Aspinall disagrees with fans doubting Ciryl Gane’s ability

    Tom Aspinall disagrees with fans doubting Ciryl Gane’s ability

    UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall disagrees with fans and media members who are downplaying Ciryl Gane’s abilities ahead of UFC 321.

    On Saturday night, Tom Aspinall will defend his heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. While many believe that the Englishman is the obvious favorite to leave with the championship wrapped around his waist, others think that Gane serves as a pretty interesting underdog in this fight.

    Either way, it’s a fight that has been brewing for quite some time now with both guys long since being viewed as the next generation of heavyweight stars. If Gane wins, a rematch seems likely down the line – but even if he doesn’t, this first fight is bound to answer a lot of questions about where both guys are at in their respective careers.

    In a recent interview, Tom Aspinall made it clear that those who don’t believe Ciryl Gane deserves to be here are wrong.

    Tom Aspinall praises Ciryl Gane

    “I think there’s this notion with the media and maybe the fans that Ciryl is not very good, which is just complete bullsh*t,” Aspinall told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I think that he’s really, really good. He’s super talented, he’s been at the top of the division for a number of years, which is not easy to do.

    “He’s been an interim champion himself. He’s obviously had two title shots for the undisputed title, as well, so I think the guy is really good. I’ve took him extremely, extremely seriously. The fact that people expect it to be an easy fight, I don’t read into that at all. I’m prepared for a really hard fight.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Ciryl Gane Does Not Care If Tom Aspinall Puts His Hand on His Shoulder “It means nothing”

    Ciryl Gane Does Not Care If Tom Aspinall Puts His Hand on His Shoulder “It means nothing”

    UFC star Ciryl Gane has said he won’t be bothered if Tom Aspinall decides to put his hand on his shoulder ahead of their fight this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Tom Aspinall will defend the UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 321. It serves as a big moment for both men as Tom attempts to further prove the hype is real, whereas Gane wants to break his 0-2 record in world title fights in the UFC.

    Of course, both men are known for being great strikers, and we expect to see that on full display in this encounter. In one of his previous big fights, Aspinall put his hand on the shoulder of his opponent Sergei Pavlovich right before the fight began, which some saw as a strange move at the time, and others saw as a sign of respect.

    In a recent interview, Ciryl Gane made it clear that he doesn’t mind it Aspinall does the same thing to him.

    Ciryl Gane’s view on Tom Aspinall’s pre-fight Pavlovich move

    “I saw the talk about Tom putting his hand on opponents’ shoulders. For me, I’m going to let him do this — it means nothing. Maybe that didn’t come from him, maybe it came from people around him. But me, I don’t take that kind of thing personally. It’s not smart to play mind games.”

    Regardless of what happens before the fight, the actual bout itself is what looks set to be one of the most intriguing features of the MMA calendar this year.

  • Why Tom Aspinall’s Father Is Not Worried About Ciryl Gane: “He’s a good point fighter”

    Why Tom Aspinall’s Father Is Not Worried About Ciryl Gane: “He’s a good point fighter”

    Tom Aspinall‘s father and head coach Andy isn’t too concerned about Ciryl Gane heading into the UFC 321 main event this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Tom Aspinall will defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane in the main event of the evening over in Abu Dhabi. While many are expecting the Englishman to successfully retain his belt, there’s always a chance that Gane can provide some kind of upset. After all, he’s a dynamic striker, and he’s been in there against some of the best in the heavyweight division.

    Tom Aspinall is incredibly talented but as we know, he hasn’t gone beyond the first round a whole lot in his mixed martial arts career. If Gane can take him there on Saturday, who knows what could happen?

    Either way, Aspinall’s father doesn’t seem too worried about what Gane can offer as a challenger.

    Tom Aspinall’s father’s view on Ciryl Gane

    “Ciryl Gane, he’s a good point fighter for me. He’s a kickbox, flicker, and toucher. He finishes fights but he takes a lot of shots to finish people. Tom is a lot more clinical. I don’t think his skill set will cause him issues at all.”

    Aspinall has the ability to take people down, but Gane knows that’s also been a weak part of his game historically. Who knows, maybe instead of a striking affair, we wind up with some interesting grappling exchanges.

    Whatever happens, there will be plenty of eyes on this main event from around the division.

  • Tom Aspinall gets honest about hypothetical showdown with UFC legend

    Tom Aspinall gets honest about hypothetical showdown with UFC legend

    UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall admitted that a hypothetical fight with Daniel Cormier during his prime may not have gone too well for him.

    As we know, Tom Aspinall is the current king of the UFC’s heavyweight division. Next weekend, that’ll really be put to the test when he defends his belt against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. If he wins, it could open up some interesting possibilities for him, with Jon Jones and Alex Pereira both still being touted as possible opponents for the champ.

    While he’s focusing on the task at hand, Tom Aspinall often gets asked questions about the state of the division as a whole – both past and present. In a recent interview, the Englishman revealed that Daniel Cormier would’ve been a particularly bad match-up for him if he was still active.

    Tom Aspinall discusses hypothetical Daniel Cormier fight

    “Peak ‘DC’ has the worst style for me ever,” Aspinall said of Daniel Cormier on the “ShxtsnGigs Podcast.” “He’s short. I’ve said this to his face as well: short guy who just keeps walking forward, changing levels in between like grappling punches. He can knock you out. He can take you down. He’s got cardio for days. For my style, he’s a nightmare.”

    “I thought about it,” Aspinall said. “He was a beast. Peak ‘DC’ was unreal.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

    While Aspinall has often been dubbed the perfect example of the ‘next generation’ of heavyweight, even he can acknowledge the greatness of the one and only Daniel Cormier.

  • What’s Next After UFC 320? Full Confirmed UFC 321 Main Card For Abu Dhabi On October 25

    What’s Next After UFC 320? Full Confirmed UFC 321 Main Card For Abu Dhabi On October 25

    UFC 320 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

    The promotion was in Las Vegas last week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its nine numbered event of the year. Of note were headline wins for Alex Pereira and Merab Dvalishvili, as well as important victories for Jiri Prochazka, Youssef Zalal, and Joe Pyfer.

    While the aftermath of the October 4 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight and bantamweight championship title pictures to the heavyweight and women’s strawweight championship conversations.

    At UFC 321, which takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on October 25, Tom Aspinall will defend the UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane.

    This will mark Aspinall’s first defense of the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship. He had been promoted from interim to undisputed champion during the UFC Baku post-fight press conference back on June 21 — the result of a long, drawn-out negotiation process involving him, the UFC, and Jon Jones. Aspinall defeated Serghei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight championship at UFC 295 and retained the interim belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

    Gane is 13-2 and has won three of his last five. He comes into this bout off a split decision win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310. Gane defeated Derrick Lewis to become an interim UFC heavyweight champion at UFC 265 in 2021. He has challenged for the heavyweight title twice since, losing to Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 and to Jon Jones at UFC 285.

    Stakes will also be high in the co-main event, as a vacant women’s strawweight championship will be on the line, thanks to Weili Zhang moving up to challenge Valentina Shevchenko at women’s flyweight. UFC 321 will see Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern scrap in a rematch to determine the new champion. Dern previously scored a decision win over Jandiroba at UFC 256. Jandiroba enters this fight on a five-fight win streak, most recently scoring a decision over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314. Dern, meanwhile, has won three of her last five, most recently submitting Amanda Ribas in a rematch that headlined UFC Vegas 101 in January.

    Nurmagomedov, Volkov, Rakic Set The Stage For Heavyweight Title Headliner At UFC 321

    Before Aspinall, Gane, Jandiroba, and Dern make their way out for their title fights, several names will look to make their own statements on the main card for UFC 321.

    This includes Umar Nurmagomedov, who will be doing battle with Mario Bautista. This will be Nurmagomedov’s first fight since coming just short of capturing the UFC bantamweight title from Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311, suffering the first loss of his MMA career in the process. Bautista, meanwhile, has won eight straight, which includes defeating UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo at UFC 307 and former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix at UFC 316.

    A heavyweight title eliminator will also be featured on this card, as Alexander Volkov takes on Jailton Almeida. Volkov will be looking to rebound from the previously mentioned split decision loss to Gane, a fight that snapped a four-fight win streak for Volkov. Almeida, meanwhile, has won two straight and 17 of 18, coming into this bout off a performance bonus-earning finish of Serghei Spivac at UFC 311.

    The main card is scheduled to open with Aleksandar Rakic taking on Azamat Murzakanov. Rakic has lost three straight, most recently dropping a decision to now-former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 308, which was last year’s Abu Dhabi pay-per-view card. Murzakanov is undefeated at 15-0, most recently finishing Brendson Ribeiro at UFC 316 in June.

    Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the likes of Ikram Aliskerov, Mateusz Rebecki, and Nathaniel Wood, all of whom are expected to be featured players on the event’s preliminary card.

    See below for the UFC 321 lineup, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
    • Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern
    • Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista
    • Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida
    • Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov

    Preliminary Card (Order TBA):

    • Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov vs. Jun-yong Park
    • Lightweight: Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo
    • Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Chris Barnett
    • Flyweight: Azat Maksum vs. Mitch Raposo
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jacqueline Amorim vs. Mizuki
    • Lightweight: Mateusz Rebecki vs. L’udovit Klein
    • Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. Jose Delgado
  • Did Jon Jones Forget Why He Asked for $40 Million to Fight Tom Aspinall?

    Did Jon Jones Forget Why He Asked for $40 Million to Fight Tom Aspinall?

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has an interesting theory regarding Jon Jones requesting $40 million to take on Tom Aspinall.

    Right now, Jon Jones is not the UFC heavyweight champion. He was, but he gave up that belt and decided to retire from mixed martial arts instead of fighting Tom Aspinall. However, after the promotion revealed that they’d be heading to the White House for an event next year, ‘Bones’ seemed to change his mind.

    Now, fans are left to wait and see whether or not Dana White will change his mind regarding Jon Jones taking part on that card. Either way, there’s a great deal of uncertainty in the air, and it’s clear that Jon will ask for a substantial amount of money in order to agree to the fight.

    After it was suggested that Jon Jones wanted $40 million to fight Aspinall, Sonnen felt the need to respond in a recent video.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Jon Jones’ financial request

    “I was at the press conference right after Jon Jones beats Stipe Miocic and Jones to fight Tom Aspinall throws out the biggest number he could think of, and that was 40 million. Now, the reason that number happened to be on Jon’s brain is there was just a report that came out that a fight that happened the day before on Netflix, Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, that Jake Paul was paid $40 million. 

    “It was not true. It was never true… But when he was asked how much he was going to need to fight Aspinall, he yelled out the biggest number he could think of, which at that time was 40 million because he just read the article about Jake Paul. 

    “But when you get back home and it’s time to actually find a date in a venue and get this fight done, Jon’s locked in at $40 million. Jon had forgot why he said $40 million. Jon forgot that this was part of the show.”

  • Tom Aspinall reveals he “doesn’t really care” about belts ahead of UFC 321

    Tom Aspinall reveals he “doesn’t really care” about belts ahead of UFC 321

    UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has said that he doesn’t really care about titles or interim/undisputed as he prepares for his next fight.

    In the main event of UFC 321, Tom Aspinall will defend his undisputed title for the very first time. He’ll do so against Ciryl Gane, and it’ll serve as the Englishman’s first fight since successfully defending his interim strap against Curtis Blaydes.

    As we look ahead to the fight, it certainly feels like Tom Aspinall is shaping up to be the clear favorite in this one. With that being said, these two have styles that should match up together pretty nicely, which could make for a fascinating showdown.

    In the UFC 321 press conference in Paris earlier today, Tom Aspinall was asked whether or not this feels like the second time he’ll be defending the title.

    Tom Aspinall reveals he “doesn’t really care” about belts ahead of UFC 321

    “To be honest, I don’t really care about belts and stuff. I only care about my next fight. Ciryl is my next fight, he’s the guy I’m focused on. This fight has been simmering for a long time, do you know what I mean? We both got in the UFC around the same time, we’ve been talking about this fight for a long time.

    “So, I’m just ready to fight this guy already and take him out.”

    Regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of Aspinall, there’s no denying that it’s exciting to see him get back in there after all he’s been through.

  • Tom Aspinall Tells UFC Fans to Give up On Jon Jones’ Comeback: “Not Interested”

    UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has told fans to move on from the idea of him fighting Jon Jones at next year’s UFC White House event.

    For the longest time, Tom Aspinall was actively asking for the opportunity to face Jon Jones for the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship. Unfortunately, ‘Bones’ never seemed particularly interested in that idea, and he eventually made the decision to retire from mixed martial arts altogether.

    Alas, it didn’t take long for him to start suggesting that he will, in fact, make his way back into the cage one day. Many rolled their eyes at this, noting that it was only the UFC White House card that led to him suggesting a comeback. Tom Aspinall, meanwhile, still isn’t buying it.

    In a recent interview, Tom Aspinall almost seemed exhausted at even having to discuss Jon.

    Tom Aspinall issues warning to fans over Jon Jones’ possible return

    “Do you want me to be honest? It has spent zero seconds in my mind. [I’m] not interested mate, and the world shouldn’t be interested either. What’s the point? [It’s] just false hope.”

    Aspinall is currently preparing to defend his title against Ciryl Gane later this year. If he’s able to win that, and do so convincingly, he could really set himself up for some special things to come in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

    Either way, it feels like the ship has sailed for Jon Jones, especially given that even Dana White is hesitant to trust him with another main event spot.

  • Tom Aspinall Must Defeat Ciryl Gane Or Else it Might Be Over for the UFC Heavyweight Division, says MMA Analyst

    Tom Aspinall Must Defeat Ciryl Gane Or Else it Might Be Over for the UFC Heavyweight Division, says MMA Analyst

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen believes that the future of the UFC’s heavyweight division could well be on the line when Tom Aspinall defends his UFC title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.

    Finally, after months of waiting, we finally have some clarity at heavyweight. The new undisputed champion, Tom Aspinall, will square off with Ciryl Gane later this year in what looks set to be a really interesting clash of styles.

    For many, Tom Aspinall is the clear favorite, but you never know what could happen in this crazy world called mixed martial arts. At the very least, we’re expecting to see the kind of showdown that reminds us all why heavyweight can be a really fun division.

    In the eyes of Chael Sonnen, however, the champion is fighting for a whole lot more than just his belt.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane

    “Never in the history of our sport has anybody had more pressure on them than Tom Aspinall.”

    “Pressure creates fatigue. It creates a chemical release… same as adrenaline, same as excitement, same as fear. It creates a release and it can paralyze you.”

    “You don’t really know what kind of guy you are until you find yourself in that position.”

    “He’s got to not just win, he’s got to win fast.”

    “I don’t know that Tom could find himself in a harder spot.”

    “I’m excited to have a heavyweight champion that wants to fight, compete, come speak, meet the public, be part of the community.”

  • Tom Aspinall To Defend UFC Heavyweight Title vs. Ciryl Gane At UFC 321

    Tom Aspinall To Defend UFC Heavyweight Title vs. Ciryl Gane At UFC 321

    After teasing the news recently that he has signed a contract for his first defense as undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, more details of the fight involving Tom Aspinall are now being reported.

    The rumors seem to be true — Aspinall will defend the heavyweight title against former interim champion Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 321, which is set to take place on Saturday, October 25.

    Red Corner MMA was the first to break the news. It is possible, following a tease earlier today, that UFC CEO and President Dana White will confirm the information in an announcement tonight.

    Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane For UFC Heavyweight Title At UFC 321

    This will be Aspinall’s first defense since being elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion last month following a long, drawn-out saga (that is technically still ongoing) involving him, the UFC, and Jon Jones.

    Aspinall was named undisputed champion at the UFC Baku post-fight press conference last month following confirmation that Jones had retired from MMA. Jones has since unretired, aiming to fight for the heavyweight title at the UFC’s White House card next July 4.

    Aspinall initially won the interim heavyweight title by defeating Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. He made a rare interim title defense at UFC 304, knocking out Curtis Blaydes.

    Gane defeated Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 to become interim heavyweight champion but failed in his bid to become undisputed champion at UFC 270, losing to Francis Ngannou. He then fought Jones for the vacant title at UFC 285, getting submitted in one round.

  • Tom Aspinall Wants to Defend His UFC Title Against Francis Ngannou – But Knows the Risks

    Tom Aspinall Wants to Defend His UFC Title Against Francis Ngannou – But Knows the Risks

    Is Tom Aspinall vs. Francis Ngannou on the table? Tom Aspinall, the undisputed UFC heavyweight king and poster child for “I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime,” has publicly declared he’s ready to defend his title against none other than Francis Ngannou. Yes, that Francis Ngannou – the man still regarded as the lineal UFC champion (he never lost his belt in the Octagon), newly-minted PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Champion, and possibly the most dangerous puncher the heavyweight division has ever known.

    Tom Aspinall vs. Francis Ngannou

    On paper, a clash between Aspinall and Ngannou is combat sports fantasy writ large. You’ve got the reigning champ with British steel, technical ability, and the self-proclaimed willingness to “never turn down a fight,” up against the immovable Cameroonian juggernaut who KO’d his way out of the UFC and into a new era at PFL. Ngannou may have swapped UFC gold for PFL millions, but many in the MMA world still see him as the true lineal king.

    And Aspinall? He’s almost taunting fate. “The day I start ducking out of fights and turning opponents down is the day I’m going to retire,” he reaffirmed, clearly not planning an early exit from the champion’s hot seat. “I’ll fight anyone. I’ll fight anytime and I’ll fight anywhere. Never turned down a fight in my life. Never will.”

    In a recent interview, Tom Aspinall was easked about Francis Ngannou and explained:

    “I’m not sure on his circumstances… I know he didn’t have the best relationship with the UFC, so I don’t know if that’s repairable. But like I said, I’ll fight anybody. He’s very, very dangerous. I think I’m a smart fighter with a good fight IQ, and I think I could navigate that danger well. But, man, you never know. This is heavyweight MMA at the top level. You never know until you get in there. It’s a fight I’d definitely be interested in.”

    But before Dana White gets too excited, here’s the rub: Ngannou’s UFC exit was as storied as it was messy. He left in 2022 after the two sides couldn’t agree on contract terms – Ngannou wanted more freedom, the ability to box, better pay for himself and all fighters, and a bit of good, old-fashioned respect from the top brass. The UFC? Not exactly in the business of co-promoting or bending the rules for departing stars, no matter the payday.

    Ngannou’s current PFL deal is equally ironclad – exclusive, lucrative, and, crucially, not constructed to let him stroll into the Octagon for a one-night-only grudge match. Both camps have the legal teams on speed dial; any “crossover” bout would require unprecedented cooperation. And, yes, plenty of zeroes on the checks.

    PFL's Donn Davis, Francis Ngannou, Peter Murray
    Image: @DonnDavisPFL/X

  • “It’s Done” – Tom Aspinall Confirms He Has Signed Contract For First Undisputed UFC Title Defense

    After almost exactly a year away since his last fight, Tom Aspinall apparently has signed a contract for his next fight — his first as defending UFC heavyweight champion.

    Following the long, dragged-on saga involving him, the UFC, and Jon Jones, Aspinall told Stefan Struve with UFC Eurosport that he has signed a contract to solidify his first defense since being elevated to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

    “I’ve just been doing what I’m told by the UFC, which is stay ready,” Aspinall said. “I’ve stayed ready for a year now. So, it’s been a little weird situation, but that’s done. We now have a fight. We can move forward with that, finally. I’m really happy about it.”

    No details on an opponent or date and venue were revealed. It should be noted that Aspinall has beaten most of the top 10-ranked heavyweights in one round; however, he has never faced No. 1 contender Ciryl Gane, who has been an interim heavyweight champion but has come up short in challenges of Francis Ngannou and Jones.

    Tom Aspinall To Make First Defense Of UFC Heavyweight Title, Details Still To Be Announced

    This news also comes on the heels of an ever-going drama between Jones, Aspinall, and the UFC.

    Aspinall was elevated to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion at the UFC Baku post-fight press conference last month following the announcement of Jones’ retirement (and the news of new legal troubles). Of course, Jones’ retirement lasted just two weeks before unretiring in the wake of the UFC White House card announcement — and he has since claimed he and Aspinall were back in negotiations.

    UFC CEO and President Dana White had called Jones vs. Aspinall a “dream match” to headline such a card; however, he admitted at the UFC 318 post-fight press conference that he has trust issues about putting Jones on what would be such a prominent event.

    After his win over Gane, Jones defended the heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic 20 months later at UFC 309. Jones and Miocic were originally booked for UFC 295; however, Jones ended up tearing his pec, and the UFC — driven to have Jones vs. Miocic — elected to postpone the fight.

    Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich for the interim UFC heavyweight title at UFC 295 and retained the interim gold against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 309.

    Jones and Aspinall’s teams had been in negotiations with the UFC for quite some time. The story goes that while the fight was nearly official last month, Jones decided to retire, citing feeling that he’s accomplished everything he has needed to in the sport.

  • Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall In The Works According to ‘Bones’: Will History Be Made at the White House?

    Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall In The Works According to ‘Bones’: Will History Be Made at the White House?

    UFC legend Jon Jones has claimed that he’d be interested in ending his mixed martial arts retirement in order to compete on the recently announced UFC White House card.

    As we know, Jon Jones is a pretty controversial figure in this sport – and that’s us putting it lightly. He has had a series of personal and professional setbacks throughout the course of his career, many of which have harmed the public’s opinion of him. The most recent was him seemingly ducking a fight with Tom Aspinall, who is now the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

    However, after the White House card was announced, things seemed to change for Jon Jones. He appeared to like the idea of being part of such an iconic event, and made it clear that he would be willing to come back.

    In a recent interview, Jon Jones doubled down on that, suggesting that he’ll be coming after the UFC heavyweight championship once again.

    Jon Jones considers Tom Aspinall fight at White House

    “I can’t promise anyone anything, but I have a very strong feeling that I’ll be on that card. It’s gonna be historic.”

    “I would wanna take one whoever’s holding the belt at the end of the year.

    “Well you know, as of right now, the champion is Tom Aspinall. But we’ll see who’s the champion at the end of the year. It’d be only fitting to have an American guy fight for the championship that night. I’d be willing to put it all on the line one more time.”

  • Jon Jones Explains Decision To Unretire: “To Be Able To Entertain The Country, And The World…At The White House…”

    Jon Jones Explains Decision To Unretire: “To Be Able To Entertain The Country, And The World…At The White House…”

    The saga of Jon Jones’ retirement and unretirement decision has been one that stretched back to when it was debated if he’d retire after facing Stipe Miocic — and it’s ongoing in the wake of his decision to unretire just two weeks after doing so and giving up the UFC heavyweight championship.

    And now, Jones has publicly given an explanation for his decision to both retire and unretire quickly.

    Jones was present at ESPN’s ESPY Awards show on July 16 and appeared on the red carpet. It was at the event’s Red Carpet show where Jones gave an interview, allowing him to give insight on his decision.

    Ultimately, Jones says it boils down to feeling like he had accomplished everything in the sport — until U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a UFC card at the White House next year as part of the U.S. Semiquincentennial.

    “I felt like I was at a place where I’ve done it all in the MMA space and felt like there wasn’t too many more challenges for me,” Jones told ESPN. “I just wanted to do something more than championships and money — and Donald Trump mentioned that he wanted to have a fight at the White House Garden, and that just seems like such a huge opportunity.”

    Jon Jones Confirms His Intention To Compete On UFC White House Card

    Following Trump’s announcement of a UFC White House card, UFC officials would confirm the plan was being explored. In the days since, UFC CEO and President Dana White has confirmed such plans are in motion. White has promised to bring the “baddest” and most anticipated UFC pay-per-view card ever next July 4.

    While logistics for the event still have to be worked out, White has mentioned that he sees a long-overdue fight between Jones and Aspinall as a “dream main event” for the card.

    Conor McGregor has also thrown his name in the hat for the White House UFC event, and White has stated he would get both a Jones fight and McGregor fight on this kind of card.

    “I’m a very proud American,” Jones said. “I have a lot of close friends that are in the military, and this is my act of — I can’t call it service — but just to be able to entertain the country and the world at this level at the White House. It just means the world to me. So I’m back.”

    Jones became UFC heavyweight champion at UFC 285 by defeating Ciryl Gane for the then-vacant title, and he retained the championship against Miocic at UFC 309. Jones and Miocic were scheduled to face off originally at UFC 295 before Jones suffered a torn pec. Instead, Aspinall won the interim heavyweight title at that event — and then retained the interim gold against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

    Negotiations between Jones and Aspinall had been ongoing and seemed to be near completion until Jones’ retirement announcement. Aspinall was then named the new UFC heavyweight champion at the UFC Baku post-fight press conference last month.

    Of course, Jones is also dealing with recent legal troubles stemming from a February car accident.

  • Dana White Confirms Jon Jones Unretiring While Revealing ‘Dream Main Event’ For White House Card

    Dana White Confirms Jon Jones Unretiring While Revealing ‘Dream Main Event’ For White House Card

    When the idea of a UFC event at the White House was first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, and later confirmed by UFC officials to media, fighters scrambled to get their name into the hat of potentially competing at such an event.

    One of those fighters was Jon Jones, who two weeks earlier had just announced his retirement from the sport of MMA, relinquishing the UFC heavyweight title in the process. This brought about an unclimactic ending to the long standoff of negotiations between he and then-interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who was promoted to undisputed champion immediately as Jones’ retirement was announced by UFC CEO and President Dana White.

    Now, during his recent appearance on the Full Send Podcast, White confirmed that despite the retirement announcement, Jones is already back.

    “He jumped back in the pool,” White confirmed.

    Dana White Says Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Would Be ‘Dream’ White House Main Event, Suggests Jones And Conor McGregor Could Both Fight On Card

    Among the various questions about what could happen in one year’s time with the White House card — including how it would be set up, what the main event could be, and how it would affect the UFC’s yearly schedule — questions have also arose about what this means for the fate (once again) of a Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall matchup.

    Jones vs. Aspinall is one of the fresher matchups available for heavyweight — a UFC division most fans and pundits have widely agreed is one of the weakest, if not the weakest, in the promotion. And while Aspinall vs. Gane is also a fresh matchup, most of the other ranked contenders Aspinall has taken out in the first round in previous outings.

    It seems White agrees that Jones vs. Aspinall is still a possibility — even going as far as to say he could see it being a main event for the White House event.

    “My dream main event right now [for the White House card], would be Aspinall vs. Jones,” White said.

    Conor McGregor, who hasn’t fought since 2021, also has heavily promoted himself as being available for the card, going as far as to make a pitch to White in a DM that has been screenshotted and shared.

    When asked about the possibility of both men competing on the card, White was open to the idea, stating, “It’s possible.”

  • Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: The White House Showdown That Could Rewrite History “1776 All Over Again

    Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: The White House Showdown That Could Rewrite History “1776 All Over Again

    UFC commentator Michael Bisping has given his thoughts on Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall potentially taking place after all – at the White House.

    As we know, Jon Jones decided to retire from mixed martial arts just a few short weeks ago. However, he then proceeded to tease the idea of a comeback, implying that he’s re-entered the UFC testing pool. Regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of him, it’s safe to say that the majority of MMA hardcore fans aren’t happy by his indecisiveness.

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel, the aforementioned Michael Bisping weighed in on the Jon Jones/Tom Aspinall ordeal.

    Michael Bisping’s view on Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall

    “I don’t know if Jon’s having a laugh, if he’s being silly, if he’s just taking the piss, or if he’s actually serious. I mean, what has changed in two weeks’ time? Of course, Trump talking about a fight at the White House. Maybe that’s it. I don’t think it is that. I do think that he would want to fight at the White House, and I’m sure every single fighter is going to want to do that.”

    “Of course, him versus Tom Aspinall—England versus USA, 1776 all over again at the White House. Unbelievable. Of course that should be top of the bill, right? But is that really what’s going on? Is it just the fact that they’re going to do a fight at the White House or has something else changed? The fact that he’s re-entered the testing pool means he’s not messing around.”

  • Jon Jones Announces He’s Re-Entered UFC Testing Pool Two Weeks After Retiring

    Jon Jones Announces He’s Re-Entered UFC Testing Pool Two Weeks After Retiring

    In what would be an insane plot twist to recent UFC events, former UFC two-division champion Jon Jones — just two weeks after announcing his official retirement from MMA — has announced he is coming out of retirement and re-entering the UFC’s drug testing pool.

    Jones announced the move himself on social media, stating “figured we’d keep everyone’s options open.”

    It appears the recent news of U.S. President Donald Trump’s desire to have a UFC card on the grounds of the White House next Fourth of July weekend — as part of the nation’s events to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday — may have hooked in Jones as well, based on a different social media post about 20 minutes prior.

    Conor McGregor previously posted to social media earlier in the day, teasing that such an event could be what brings him out of his long UFC hiatus, and perhaps finally to take on Michael Chandler.

    Jon Jones Announcing Reversal On Retirement Decision?

    This news comes on the heels of Jones announcing his retirement recently in what many thought marked the end of a long, drawn-out saga of fight negotiations between him and new undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

    There is a dispute over whether or not a fight between the two was nearly official prior to Jones’ retirement. Jones has claimed that a fight was never signed; meanwhile, UFC President Dana White claimed the fight had been signed and was to be announced — only for Jones to change his mind and retire, citing a lack of interest in competing. Jones made those remarks on a podcast appearance. MMA insider Ariel Helwani, meanwhile, claims White’s side to the story is the true sequence of events.

    After dominating the UFC’s light heavyweight scene throughout the 2010s, Jones relinquished the light heavyweight title in 2020 and took a three-year hiatus, coming back at UFC 285 to defeat Ciryl Gane for the UFC heavyweight title.

    He was scheduled to defend the title at UFC 295 against Stipe Miocic, but the fight was delayed one year after Jones tore his pec. The UFC elected not to strip Jones, with Aspinall winning the interim title at the card and making a rare defense of an interim belt, defeating Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. Jones went on to defeat Miocic at UFC 309.

    Jones has dealt with plenty of legal troubles over the years as well, and just hours after retiring, a report came out accusing Jones of leaving the scene of an accident this past February. Police alleged that, when speaking with Jones — after finding a woman naked from the waist down in a vehicle allegedly driven by Jones — Jones implied “his capacity to employ lethal force through third parties.”

  • Top UFC Heavyweight Urges Tom Aspinall To Defend Undisputed Title After Jon Jones’ Retirement

    Tom Aspinall will have a growing line of contenders awaiting a chance to challenge him in his first undisputed title defense.

    The top tier of the UFC heavyweight division had been stuck in limbo for the past two years, with the promotion holding out hope for a long-awaited title unification clash between reigning champion Jon Jones and interim titleholder Aspinall. On paper, it had all the makings of a historic showdown. But the bout never came to fruition, as “Bones” repeatedly dismissed the matchup, arguing that a win over Aspinall wouldn’t meaningfully elevate his already legendary résumé.

    However, this past Saturday, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Jones has officially opted to retire from active competition. Consequently, Aspinall has now taken over as the undisputed heavyweight king. White added that the promotion will begin working with the Brit next week to book his first title defense.

    Tom Aspinall will soon look to defend his undisputed title, but identifying the most deserving challenger in the division’s chaotic landscape won’t be easy.

    Image: @UFCEurope/X

    Jailton Almeida Puts His Name In The Hat To Face Tom Aspinall Next

    Following the announcement of Tom Aspinall’s elevation to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Jailton Almeida took to X to declare himself the rightful top contender for the Brit’s first title defense.

    In his post, “Malhadinho” pitched himself as the most deserving contender and dismissed Ciryl Gane as unworthy of a title shot against Aspinall. He pointed out that the Frenchman had already fallen short in two previous championship bouts and argued that his recent win over Alexander Volkov was far from convincing.

    “Congrats champ. You deserve that.Now, let’s make the only fight that makes sense — Aspinall vs. Almeida for the undisputed heavyweight title of the world. Gane ducked you and me before, already fought for the belt and lost twice, and his last win was a robbery,” Jailton Almeida wrote on X.

    The 33-year-old Brazilian went a step further, listing fellow top contenders like Sergei Pavlovich, Curtis Blaydes, and Volkov while pointing out that nearly all of them have already faced Tom Aspinall and failed to get the job done.

    Almeida is riding the momentum of a two-fight win streak, with his most recent outing being a first-round knockout of Serghei Spivac at UFC 311 this past January. Before that, “Malhadinho” had compiled an impressive six-fight run in the Octagon, which was snapped by a TKO loss to Blaydes at UFC 299 in March 2024.

    Image: @malhadinho_ufc/Instagram
  • BREAKING: Jon Jones Officially Retired, Tom Aspinall Named UFC Heavyweight Champion

    BREAKING: Jon Jones Officially Retired, Tom Aspinall Named UFC Heavyweight Champion

    All this time waiting, and the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight will not come to pass.

    At the UFC Baku Post-Fight Press Conference, UFC CEO and President Dana White officially declared the status of Jon Jones as “retired,” officially ending Jones’ two-year run as the UFC heavyweight champion.

    As a result, the UFC head honcho has announced, Tom Aspinall, who was the interim UFC heavyweight champion, will now be elevated to undisputed champion.

    “Jon Jones called us last night and retired,” White said. “Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.”

    Tom Aspinall Named New Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion Following Jon Jones Retirement

    Since Aspinall’s interim title win, talks have circulated around a potential undisputed title fight between Jones and Aspinall — with those talks intensifying after Jones’ win over Miocic. Constant debates were had over if Jones would actually take up the fight.

    While there had been moments of hope — for instance, White claiming the fight was nearly signed — there had been plenty of moments that showed the fight might not happen. Instances included Aspinall’s “duck” callout earlier in the year at UFC London, as well as Aspinall’s father berating Jones and his team about dragging out negotiations.

    Just a couple of days ago, Jones appeared on the Full Send Podcast and stated that he is at a point where he doesn’t care about fighting.

    “I am retired,” Jones said. “Right now, I could really care less about fighting. I’ve been doing it all my life at a very high level. When the itch comes back, if it comes back, then I’ll do it with my whole heart, and I’ll do it to the best of my abilities.”

    Jones had been heavyweight champion since submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 — which marked his first fight in the UFC after vacating the UFC light heavyweight championship — a division that Jones dominated throughout the 2010s — three years prior.

    Jones only made one defense of the championship, defeating former champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 this past November. The two had been scheduled to meet at UFC 295 the previous year, also at Madison Square Garden, before a torn pec put Jones on the shelf.

    It was at that UFC 295 card where Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich to become interim heavyweight champion. He defended the interim title in a rare feat at UFC 304, scoring a first-round finish of Curtis Blaydes.

  • Dana White Gives Big (and Negative) Update: ‘If Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Can’t Happen, We’ll Move On Fast’

    Dana White Gives Big (and Negative) Update: ‘If Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Can’t Happen, We’ll Move On Fast’

    UFC president Dana White has provided a fresh update on the possible title unification fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall.

    As we know, Dana White has been trying to get Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall booked for a long time now. It’s a fight that makes sense with both Jones and Aspinall holding gold in the heavyweight division, but for whatever reason, it just doesn’t seem like ‘Bones’ is particularly interested in throwing down with Aspinall – unless it’s for a whole lot of money.

    For Dana White, we can only imagine how much frustration this is causing him. He always wants to put on the biggest and best fights imaginable and after failing to get Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou over the line, it’d be a real shame if the same thing happens with a fight that’s arguably just as big.

    In a recent interview, Dana White spoke candidly about when fans can expect to hear an announcement regarding what’s happening.

    Dana White provides Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall update

    “Jon Jones has never turned down an opponent here before, or been afraid to fight anybody.”

    “I don’t know, we’ll see how this thing plays out over the next couple of weeks. Yeah, if we can’t get this fight done, we’ll move on quickly.”

    “We’ll have the answers in the next couple of weeks.”

    While White can hope and pray that this fight is going to happen, his tone has certainly changed in the last couple of weeks. Hopefully, we get a surprise announcement confirming the fight sooner rather than later.

  • Dana White Says Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Is ‘Done’ – But Should We Believe It This Time?

    Dana White Says Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Is ‘Done’ – But Should We Believe It This Time?

    Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall is basically a done deal according to UFC leader Dana White. After months of swirling rumors, social media sniping, and enough speculation to fill a heavyweight octagon, UFC CEO Dana White has finally tried to put the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall saga to bed.

    Dana White Drops the Mic on Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Rumors

    Speaking at the UFC 316 post-fight press conference, White delivered a line that should, in theory, end the guessing game: “Jon Jones agreed to fight Tom. He was offered the deal and accepted the deal. Unless you hear it come from here or we put out a press release, don’t believe any of the rumors.”

    It’s the kind of statement that sounds definitive, but if you’ve followed this heavyweight drama, you know nothing is ever that simple. For over a year, Aspinall has been stuck in interim champion limbo, defending his belt and fielding questions about Jones’ whereabouts. Meanwhile, Jon Jones has been busy on social media, sometimes teasing retirement, sometimes hinting at a “legacy” fight with Francis Ngannou, and occasionally lobbing a jab or two at Aspinall for good measure.

    Dana White’s latest declaration is meant to cut through the noise, but the UFC boss himself admits that until the contracts are signed and the walkouts are scheduled, anything can happen. “Unless you hear it come from here…” is classic Dana White – reminding everyone that, in the UFC, the only thing more unpredictable than a heavyweight punch is the matchmaking process itself.

    Surging UFC Heavyweight Stakes Claim For Tom Aspinall Fight If Jon Jones Turns It Down
    Image: @tomaspinallofficial/Instagram

    Tom Aspinall, for his part, has already started looking ahead, making it clear he’s not waiting around for Jones to make up his mind. He’s ready to fight twice this year, with or without the so-called “GOAT” in the opposite corner. Fans, meanwhile, have taken matters into their own hands, launching petitions to strip Jones of his title and demanding the division move forward.

    So is it a done deal? If you believe Dana White, yes – at least until the next plot twist. Stay tuned, just don’t believe the rumors unless they come with an official UFC stamp.

    Dana White Introduces Pit-Style ‘Bowl’ Ahead of UFC BJJ Debut
    Image: UFC.com

  • Pressure Mounts As Over 80,000 Fans Demand UFC Strip Jon Jones Of Heavyweight Title, “Bones” Remains Unfazed

    Pressure Mounts As Over 80,000 Fans Demand UFC Strip Jon Jones Of Heavyweight Title, “Bones” Remains Unfazed

    Jon Jones appears entirely indifferent by the growing calls from the MMA community for him to be stripped of his UFC heavyweight title.

    Jones clinched the UFC heavyweight title with a first-round submission win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. However, more than two years have passed since that moment, and he has defended his title only once during that span.

    “Bones” has spent the bulk of his heavyweight reign on the sidelines after suffering a serious torn pectoral injury ahead of his first title defense against former champ Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November 2023. Following his injury-induced exit, Tom Aspinall captured the interim heavyweight title and emerged as the division’s new force.

    However, rather than facing Aspinall in a highly anticipated title unification clash, Jon Jones chose a different path upon his return to the Octagon — opting instead to defend his heavyweight belt against Miocic at UFC 309 this past November.

    Although the British standout has relentlessly campaigned for a potential showdown with Jones, “Bones” has expressed minimal interest in the matchup. He has repeatedly suggested that only a massive payday could entice him into the Octagon with Aspinall — otherwise, he seems more inclined to retire. Jones’ stance has remained largely noncommittal, casting serious doubt over whether the fight will ever materialize.

    Jon Jones Responds To Fan-Led Petition To Strip His UFC Heavyweight Belt

    Frustrated by Jon Jones’ seemingly nonchalant attitude toward a potential heavyweight title unification bout with Tom Aspinall, fans launched a petition on Change.org two weeks ago, urging UFC CEO Dana White to take action and strip “Bones” of his title over his ongoing unwillingness to face the interim champion.

    The petition has surprisingly gained momentum, amassing over 82,000 verified signatures at the time of writing.

    The surge of fan backlash has not gone unnoticed by Jones, who addressed the petition on social media by taking a pointed jab at his naysayers.

    “The equivalent to pico grams,” Jon Jones wrote on Instagram.

    Jones’ jab carried a not-so-subtle reference to one of the most controversial moments of his UFC career. The joke traced back to UFC 232 in December 2018, when “Bones” made his return from a 15-month suspension after testing positive for an anabolic steroid, stepping in to rematch Alexander Gustafsson.

    However, just a week before the fight, Jones once again tested positive, this time for trace amounts measured in picograms of the same steroid that had previously led to his suspension. Years later, USADA revised its regulations, clarifying that levels below 100 picograms no longer constitute a violation.

    Image: @jonnybones/Instagram

  • ‘Let’s Just Move On And Strip Him’ – Fans React To Jon Jones, Nate Diaz Coaching Russia’s Answer To The Ultimate Fighter

    ‘Let’s Just Move On And Strip Him’ – Fans React To Jon Jones, Nate Diaz Coaching Russia’s Answer To The Ultimate Fighter

    As Tom Aspinall (along with most MMA fans around the world) waits for his UFC heavyweight championship unification match, it appears Jon Jones’s next venture — in a surprising move — is outside the Octagon.

    Jones will be heading to Russia alongside another UFC great, Nate Diaz, to serve as coaches for season two of ALF Reality — a Russian program similar in nature to The Ultimate Fighter.

    Jones announced the news on his Instagram page.

    ALF Reality‘s first season also saw two UFC stars serve as coaches, as that season featured former bantamweight title rivals Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan.

    That said, several MMA fans and pundits gave the news flack, as this project provides no update for a fight with Aspinall — a fight Jones has previously stated he feels he has little obligation to fulfill.

    Jon Jones To Serve As Coach On Reality Show Opposing Nate Diaz

    https://twitter.com/Goatziev/status/1920902759584334168
    https://twitter.com/MikeMartinGB/status/1920902447024804266
    https://twitter.com/ZaiahFranklin/status/1920902368096337948

    Jones and Aspinall’s negotiations have gone on for months now, with Aspinall at one point showing up in the crowd at UFC London in late March, holding up a rubber duck to the camera.

    Jones has fought just twice since the start of 2023 — defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 for the then-vacant heavyweight title and retaining it in a fourth-round finish of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November. Jones’ win over Gane was his first fight in the Octagon since defeating Dominick Reyes to retain the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 247 in February 2020 for that matter.

    Aspinall became interim UFC heavyweight champion with a 69-second finish of Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main event of UFC 295 in November 2023. That was the originally planned date for Jones vs. Miocic before Jones suffered a torn pec.

    Aspinall retained the interim title with a finish of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 last July. If he’s required to defend the interim belt again, he would become just the second man in UFC history (following Renan Barao’s two interim bantamweight title defenses during Dominick Cruz’s injury while champion) to do so.

  • Tom Aspinall ‘Sworn To Secrecy’ Over Next Fight, But Promises Announcement ‘Soon’

    Tom Aspinall ‘Sworn To Secrecy’ Over Next Fight, But Promises Announcement ‘Soon’

    While the fans still remain in the dark about plans in the heavyweight title picture, it would seem that Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall no longer does.

    Aspinall has been pushing for a unification clash with Jon Jones ever since winning the interim belt in November 2023. He made the most of Rochester native’s canceled defense against Stipe Miocic by finishing Sergei Pavlovich on short notice.

    A year and a half later, the heavyweight division remains under the rule of two champs who have both fought others in the meantime. With Jones remaining firm on his insistance to face Miocic, Aspinall passed the time by convincingly beating Curtis Blaydes to keep hold of his interim gold last July.

    Since “Bones” had his hand raised a few months later, discussion over the pair finally unifying the titles has only increased, with the UFC also appearing firmly behind that plan.

    The delay in it happening? According to Tom Aspinall, a familiar reluctance from Jones.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Aspinall suggested some resolution has been reached. When it comes to what, however, the Brit has been “sworn to secrecy” for the time being.

    “I know everyone wants fight news, but I do know what’s happening,” Tom Aspinall said. “I have been sworn to secrecy for a little bit, so stay tuned. … But there will be news coming, hopefully very soon.”