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Tag: Tom Aspinall

  • Jon Jones Shrugs Off ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Accusations: ‘Oh No, My World Is Over’

    Jon Jones Shrugs Off ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Accusations: ‘Oh No, My World Is Over’

    Jon Jones seems in no mood to entertain claims that he’s dodging a potential clash with Tom Aspinall.

    Jones is locked in to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 309, set for Nov. 16 at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    During a recent interview with MMA journalist Kevin Iole, “Bones” decisively dismissed the notion of facing interim champion Aspinall next, should he triumph over Miocic at UFC 309. He argued that, despite Aspinall’s persistent calls for a title unification fight, the Brit has yet to prove himself worthy of sharing the Octagon with him.

    Instead, Jones hinted that the fight he’s truly eyeing after next weekend is a high-stakes showdown with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, a bout that would solidify his legacy for good.

    Jones has faced fierce backlash from a segment of the MMA community, with accusations swirling that he’s “ducking” a showdown with Aspinall. The drama recently spilled onto social media once again, where “Bones” fired back at his critics in a post that has since been deleted.

    “I’m going to hide in my mansion and not come outside, people are calling me a duck come oh no my world is over” Jones tweeted. “What is this high school? lol”

    Soon after, the longtime former UFC light heavyweight champion posted a more introspective reply, emphasizing that his actions are driven by purpose and that he remains unfazed by external criticism.

    “As at this point in my career, every decision is rooted in purpose,” Jones posted. “My journey isn’t dictated by hype or outside opinions—it’s about crafting a legacy that speaks for itself, one step at a time. I’m here to do what’s right for my career and my legacy, with a vision that’s clear and unshakable. Focused, driven, and in complete control of myself. The story continues, and it’s unfolding exactly as I’ve envisioned.”

    UFC 309 will mark Jones’ long-awaited return to the Octagon after more than a year on the sidelines since claiming the heavyweight title with a victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.

    He was initially slated to defend his title against Miocic at UFC 295, but the New Yorker was forced to withdraw just two weeks before the fight due to a torn pectoral muscle.

  • Watch Tom Aspinall Trade Kicks In Dead-Leg Contest With Kickboxing Champion

    Watch Tom Aspinall Trade Kicks In Dead-Leg Contest With Kickboxing Champion

    UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been able to build a perfect training regime around him in England where he only works with other large bodies. His specifically tailored training has been a huge benefit to the Brit but it also doesn’t stop him from travelling from time to time to work with some other specialist partners.

    A long-time friend and training partner of his is none other than “The King of Kickboxing”, Rico Verhoeven. The Dutch striker is the long-reigning heavyweight champion in GLORY and with his next title defense scheduled for GLORY Collision 7 on December 7, he recently got some sparring rounds in with one of the best heavyweights in MMA.

    Though he didn’t show what could be PPV quality sparring rounds between the two lethal strikers, Aspinall did put up a YouTube video that featured the elite kickboxer. As well as their conversation regarding a potential crossover fight between Verhoeven and Francis Ngannou, the interim heavyweight champion invited him on the channel for a “dead leg challenge” which guests have featured on in the past.

    Here, both competitors will take turns throwing leg kicks that start at very low percent power and slowly build. However, usually these guests are not fighters so Aspinall is teaching them the technique and then getting them to do it to him which has little impact on him.

    This time around, in his own words, he is the beginner when he’s in the company of Verhoeven who is one of the best leg kickers in the sport. Given that both of them are very effective kickers, they chose to start right from the 70% mark, going up 10% each time for a total of three kicks each.

    Though Aspinall is able to take the punishment and dish it back out, Verhoeven seems to be enjoying himself more and more with each kick that he takes. His incredible durability is one of his biggest strengths, especially when it comes to competing in Grand Prix tournaments and it’s clear to see why in this video.

  • Jon Jones Picks Alex Pereira Over Tom Aspinall As Preferred Next Opponent

    Jon Jones Picks Alex Pereira Over Tom Aspinall As Preferred Next Opponent

    Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight championship for the first time against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. After winning the title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023, the newly crowned champion suffered a shoulder injury that delayed his fight with the former UFC heavyweight kingpin.

    While many fans are interested in watching two legends face each other before they hang up their gloves, others simply want the UFC heavyweight division to move forward. Tom Aspinall has defended his interim UFC heavyweight belt once and has finished most top contenders in the first round.

    Jones is a considerable favorite against Miocic, and while he’s teased retirement in the past, he discussed potential future opponents during an interview on the Kevin Iole YouTube channel.

    “Tom Aspinall, is, I don’t want to say nobody but, he just hasn’t proven anything. He hasn’t done anything and I understand that, I mean he won his belt against Sergei. Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else, so, it’s just like, I’m not here to gamble someone else making a name off of me,” He continued. “A guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be, not only financially worth it, but, legacy worth it, would be Alex Pereira.”

    When asked if he would fight Aspinall after beating Miocic, Jones outright rejected the current interim UFC heavyweight champion. He compared the English heavyweight to Johnny Walker, who many thought could dethrone “Bones” at light heavyweight.

    “Bones” mentioned that he’s accepted a fair amount of risky fights back in the day, and he now only expects an opponent that makes sense to him financially and legacy-wise. On these grounds, he named Alex Pereira a more exciting fight than Aspinall.

    Unsurprisingly, “Bones” is being called out for not giving any credit at all to an interim champion with a title defense. That said, it’s hard to speculate on the future of the heavyweight division accurately until the UFC 309 main event concludes.

  • Dana White & Jon Jones Can’t Agree On Potential Aspinall Fight After UFC 309

    Dana White & Jon Jones Can’t Agree On Potential Aspinall Fight After UFC 309

    Dana White and Jon Jones recently offered starkly different opinions on whether the much-anticipated fight with Tom Aspinall will come to fruition following UFC 309.

    Jones is set to make the first defense of his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The two were originally scheduled to face off at UFC 295 in November 2023, but the fight was scrapped at the last minute after “Bones” suffered a torn pectoral muscle.

    As a result, Aspinall stepped in to claim the interim heavyweight title with a stunning knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. Since then, the Brit has been outspoken about his desire to face Jones in a title unification bout. However, the former light heavyweight champion has repeatedly brushed off the idea, with the UFC CEO also firmly asserting that Jones’ next challenge will remain Miocic.

    Both Jones and Miocic have repeatedly suggested that their upcoming bout could mark the end of their careers. Despite that, in a recent interview with TNT Sports, White expressed his belief that the winner of UFC 309 would likely face Aspinall next.

    https://youtu.be/aUhZ8UG2cNQ?si=OtrHvO53p7RzjvC4

    But during an interview with MMA reporter Kevin Iole, “Bones” outright rejected the notion of facing Aspinall next should he emerge victorious against Miocic next weekend.

    Jones argued that the interim heavyweight champion has yet to prove himself worthy of facing him in the Octagon.

    “I feel like Tom Aspinall is — I don’t want to say nobody, but he just hasn’t proven anything; he hasn’t done anything. And I understand that, I mean, he won his belt against Sergei, but Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else. So it’s just like, I’m not here to gamble with someone else making a name off of me.”

    Jones went on to say that he’s primarily focused on competing against high-profile opponents, those capable of elevating his already storied career. At the moment, reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira is the opponent who piques his interest the most.

    “If there were to be a fight with a guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be not only financially worth it but legacy-worthy, it would be Alex Pereira. Alex Pereira and I are both 37 years old right now. I weigh about 235 [pounds]; I’m an incredibly light heavyweight. I think Pereira walks around at 240, and I think that fight would add much more to my legacy than a young man who’s cool today and maybe gone tomorrow.”

    • Read More: Tom Aspinall Explains How Stipe Miocic Can Beat Jon Jones At UFC 309
  • Current UFC Champion Reveals Interest In Post-UFC WWE Career: ‘Still Get The Thrill’

    Current UFC Champion Reveals Interest In Post-UFC WWE Career: ‘Still Get The Thrill’

    Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has said in the past that he doesn’t intend on sticking around in the sport to achieve a long-lasting run and legacy. The Brit wants to make as much money possible in the fastest time before leaving with his health.

    This means that he’s going to need something to occupy his time once his fighting days are over and though he’s in no rush to walk away right now, an opportunity did recently arise. At the WWE’s recent live tour of the UK, one half of TKO Group Holdings collided with the other.

    Aspinall was brought into the ring in Manchester, in the same venue where he stopped Curtis Blaydes in July, to step through the ropes and stand side-by-side with WWE champions Cody Rhodes and Gunther.

    In a recent interview with SafestCasinoSites, Aspinall reflected on the experience and whether stepping inside a WWE ring would be something that appeals to him once he’s finishing with his fighting career.

    The champion started by talking about other areas that he would like to explore once he retires, including punditry and analyst work which he currently does for TNT Sports in the UK. However, pro wrestling helps to give him the same adrenaline rush that competing inside the Octagon satisfies.

    “Absolutely, mate. That’s what I want to do in my post-fighting career. I’ve got my show on TNT Sports now, so I like the punditry side as well. I’m very passionate about MMA, it’s been my life for as long as I can remember. I like to think that I know more about MMA than most and I can offer some kind of knowledge and breakdown to people who don’t understand MMA as well as I do. I think I’ve definitely got that to offer and I think I do that well, it’s something I enjoy and something that I want to continue to do.

    “But WWE is something new and exciting for me as well. I really enjoyed it, it’s a buzz. It’s another way to get out there in front of an audience and do something not quite as dangerous, but still get the thrill. I don’t know, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. I’ve still got a lot that I want to do in my MMA career. I’m not saying that I want to hang up the gloves just yet, but I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t enjoy it. I enjoyed the whole thing.”

  • Tom Aspinall Names Undefeated UFC Bantamweight As His One To Watch

    Tom Aspinall Names Undefeated UFC Bantamweight As His One To Watch

    Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been one of the biggest success stories in recent years of the sport. The Brit arrived in the promotion with bags of potential but quickly rose up the rankings with many now seeing him as the best heavyweight in the division.

    In a recent interview with SafestCasinoSites, Aspinall was asked whether there is someone else on the roster that he points to as a one to watch. A rising prospect who like Aspinall, could continue to prove himself as an elite competitor with each step up in competition.

    The interim champion has made it clear on multiple occasions that the heavyweight division is his focus and though he sees it as nearly a different sport to the rest of MMA, Aspinall does like to try and learn things from other fighters in lower weight classes.

    This led him to giving the answer of the undefeated bantamweight contender, Payton Talbott, who debuted in the Octagon just under a year ago. In that time, the Contender Series alum has recorded three finishes at 135-pounds.

    His destructive display against Cameron Saaiman was incredibly impressive considering how highly people regard both men. Talbott then followed that up with a 19-second knockout against Yanis Ghemmouri at UFC 303.

    Aspinall hasn’t done a deep dive on the 26-year old but he likes what he has seen so far.

    “It’s difficult to say really. I only keep up with the heavyweights really, keep an eye on the heavyweights because obviously it’s my division. But there’s a guy, I believe he’s a featherweight, maybe a bantamweight called Payton Talbott. I’ve seen him, he looks incredible. I don’t know him personally at all, never met him or anything like that, so I’m not biassed on his side, but I’ve seen him a couple of times in the UFC and he looks like the real deal, relatively untested at this point, he’s only just got into the UFC. I don’t think he’s fought anyone ranked or anything like that, but he looks really good from what I’ve seen. One to watch.”

  • UFC Champion Gets Inspired By Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 308 Win: ‘I Need To Learn More…’     

    UFC Champion Gets Inspired By Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 308 Win: ‘I Need To Learn More…’     

    Khamzat Chimaev’s grappling has always been one of the most feared wrestling skillsets that we have seen inside the Octagon but he took it to whole new levels at UFC 308. In his biggest test to date, the undefeated contender submitted Robert Whittaker in the first round.

    Not only did “Borz” give his opponent little chance to defend the takedown by shooting right at him early on in the fight, he did significant and gruesome damage to the jaw of the former champion in just a few seconds of pressure.

    Fight fans have known for a long time now that any opponent of Chimaev’s was going to have to weather a rough storm early on because of his aggressive grappling threat. After Kamaru Usman was able to do that and make the fight competitive at UFC 294 last year, there were some doubts hanging over Chimaev’s potential.

    He was back to his best in Abu Dhabi and his grappling looked so dominant that it inspired a current UFC champion to keep working harder and learning more. Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall gave his thoughts on the fights in a video on his YouTube channel.

    Having given his live reactions via a watch-along, Aspinall was massively impressed by Chimaev’s performance and as someone that tries to take lessons from other fighters, the Brit was certainly able to gain something from this display.

    “What he does for me as a fighter myself, me as an already established champion, I look at him and I feel like I need to learn more with the grappling. I need to learn more with the attacks. I need to learn more with how to control someone and not let him move and play the game like he does.”

    Aspinall was left stunned by what Chimaev did against an opponent like “The Reaper” who he believed would be able to overcome the early adversity and get his hand raised.

    “That was an unbelievable performance and I think, to top it all off, he did it to Robert Whittaker. He went out there and schooled Robert Whittaker which is unbelievable.”

  • Tom Aspinall Predicts Fight Between Potential Next Opponents Ciryl Gane & Alexander Volkov

    Tom Aspinall Predicts Fight Between Potential Next Opponents Ciryl Gane & Alexander Volkov

    It’s safe to say that interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is not too confident that the winner of Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic will face him to unify the belts following UFC 309. The two veterans are set to collide at Madison Square Garden where it’s expected that both men will retire after the fight.

    That leaves Aspinall likely looking at an upcoming clash between top contenders as his next opponent once he’s promoted to being the full champion. At UFC 310 on December 7, former interim champion Ciryl Gane will make his return to the Octagon to face off with Alexander Volkov in a rematch.

    Gane was dominant in their first meeting back in 2021 but a lot has changed since then, especially when you look at both men’s activity. The Frenchman hasn’t fought since September of last year where he stopped Serghei Spivac in Paris to bounce back from his loss to Jones earlier that year.

    As for Aspinall’s former opponent in Volkov, he’s won four in a row since losing to the Brit with his latest victory over Sergei Pavlovich coming this past June. In a recent interview with CasinoHawks, Aspinall previewed the fight.

    He believes that the recent form and activity of the Russian will make this fight far more competitive than their initial meeting at the Apex three years ago.

    “I think it’s a 50-50 fight. I know they fought before, and it was an absolute stinker—the first one was terrible. Since I fought Volkov, he’s improved a lot. He’s changed his training situation, and Gane has been inactive. Gane seems to fight once a year against opponents who suit him quite well. It’s hard to say; Volkov has been very active. I think he fought four or five times since we fought a couple of years ago, which is a lot for an elite heavyweight. I still think it’s a close fight, though, because I believe Gane is very good and smart, but I think it’ll be a lot closer than the last one, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Volkov pulled it off.”

  • Daniel Cormier Brands Aspinall The World’s Best Heavyweight Over Ngannou, Jones

    Daniel Cormier Brands Aspinall The World’s Best Heavyweight Over Ngannou, Jones

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier believes Tom Aspinall currently holds the global heavyweight crown over both Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou.

    The debate surrounding who sits top spot as the world’s best heavyweight has picked up again following a standout performance from Ngannou this past weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    Headlining a PFL pay-per-view, “The Predator” debuted in the SmartCage by battering Renan Ferreira on the ground and rendering the Brazilian unconscious in the very first round. The result came in Ngannou’s first MMA bout since January 2022.

    With the Cameroonian back in the discussion, he appears to be battling the UFC’s heavyweight champ, Jones, and his interim counterpart, Aspinall, for the global throne.

    And although much of the discussion post-fight for Ngannou has centered around a long-desired clash with Jones, Cormier said during a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA‘s YouTube channel that they would be competing for silver.

    After dismissing Ngannou’s claim to superiority over Jones and Aspinall, “DC” said he’d back the Englishman to beat both “The Predator” and “Bones,” leaving him as the best heavyweight in the world.

    “I don’t believe he’s the best heavyweight, not Francis,” Cormier said. “I think the best heavyweight is Tom Aspinall, still. I still believe the best heavyweight in the world right now is Tom Aspinall. I think Jon is, but he’s older now. I think Aspinall’s still young, he’s fresh. There is something to not having everything yet. When you have everything, it’s hard, man. This guy Tom still doesn’t have everything. Sure, he’s headlined a couple of pay-per-view. But he’s not making seven figures every time he walks into the Octagon. He hasn’t been making a million dollars for 10 years like Jon Jones.

    “I believe that Jones right now has everything. … There was a time he could go through anything to stay champion. Can he still do that? … Can he dig as deep as he did against Alexander Gustafsson?” Cormier continued. “Aspinall sure has a lot of questions, but when you look at these dudes all on paper, I would favor Tom to beat Francis, I would favor Tom to beat Stipe (Miocic), and I would actually favor Tom to beat Jon Jones right now.”

    It remains to be seen what lies ahead in MMA for Ngannou, but given his position away from the UFC and the uncertainty surrounding suitable opposition, he may struggle to change the minds of those sharing Cormier’s sentiment.

    Aspinall himself has cited Ngannou’s opponent options away from the Octagon as the reason why he doesn’t consider the Cameroonian a candidate for best-heavyweight status.

    The Manchester native is confident that he holds that distinction, but he unfortunately won’t have the chance to prove it next time out. Much to his bemusement and the frustration of many fans, Jones won’t be unifying the title next month.

    Instead, the former light heavyweight kingpin is set to put his gold on the line at UFC 309 against Miocic, who hasn’t competed since a knockout loss to Ngannou back in March 2021.

  • Tom Aspinall On Why It’s ‘Hard’ To Put Ngannou In Best Heavyweight Debate: ‘The Guy He’s Fighting…’ 

    Tom Aspinall On Why It’s ‘Hard’ To Put Ngannou In Best Heavyweight Debate: ‘The Guy He’s Fighting…’ 

    Tom Aspinall thinks the quality of Francis Ngannou’s PFL opposition could eliminate him from the best heavyweight discussion.

    Aspinall, who captured interim UFC gold last year, is currently in pursuit of the undisputed throne formerly occupied by Ngannou. “The Predator” chose to exit the promotion at the start of 2023, and he’s since held lineal heavyweight MMA champ status.

    Following his departure and subsequent signing with the PFL, Ngannou’s sights drifted to the boxing ring, where he battled Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in back-to-back blockbuster bouts.

    Now, though, the Cameroonian is days away from entering the cage once again, and he still expects to do so as the world’s best heavyweight.

    Aspinall has something to say about that, stating during an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned that the competition Ngannou will face outside the UFC could disqualify him from such a category.

    Ngannou is set to headline this weekend’s PFL pay-per-view in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia opposite 2023 PFL heavyweight title winner Renan Ferreira. The Brazilian is coming off an emphatic first-round knockout of Bellator kingpin Ryan Bader.

    While “Problema” is getting plenty of respect from “The Predator,” who has even branded himself the underdog, Aspinall insists that Ferreira is far from an “elite” heavyweight.

    “I have a lot of respect for Francis. And I really appreciate his story. I really appreciate what he’s done in the sport,” Aspinall said. “But it’s hard to debate right now. The guy he’s fighting, he’s not elite. Do you know what I mean? And the guys he’ll be fighting in the future aren’t elite, and it’s as simple as that. These aren’t the best guys in the world.

    “The guy he’s fighting fought a friend of mine, a training partner of mine, Ante Delija, last year. Ante just destroyed him within a minute or two; took him down, ground-and-pounded him, and stopped him within the first minute,” Aspinall continued. “The guy isn’t elite, his opponent. Yeah he’s big, yeah he’s powerful, yeah he can knock you out, but he’s not an elite heavyweight. I’m not disrespecting him, that’s just my honest opinion. The elite guys are not in the PFL. … It’s difficult to say he (Ngannou) is the best heavyweight in the world when he isn’t fighting elite guys.”

    Regardless, Ngannou will have his sights on making a firm statement in his long-awaited return to MMA competition in order to prove that he’s not lost a step inside the cage since heading to the ring.

  • Curtis Blaydes Reflects On UFC 304 Loss: ‘I Tossed Out the Game Plan’

    Curtis Blaydes Reflects On UFC 304 Loss: ‘I Tossed Out the Game Plan’

    Curtis Blaydes returned to England at UFC 304 where there was still a score to settle with fellow top heavyweight Tom Aspinall.

    The two men first met back in 2022 where the fight only lasted 15 seconds following an unfortunate injury to the Brit.

    With Aspinall holding the interim heavyweight title and being keen to run this one back, the stage was set for Manchester on July 27.

    In the short time that their initial encounter lasted, Blaydes had some success with his striking even if it was only a few quick exchanges.

    He wasn’t able to show any of his grappling skills that would surely be a pivotal factor in the rematch.

    Curtis Blaydes Reflects On What Went Wrong At UFC 304

    Once again at UFC 304, Blaydes wasn’t able to really test Aspinall’s wrestling which is where “Razor” holds the clearest advantage.

    He stood with his opponent which is always a dangerous game considering the timing, speed and power that the interim champ brings to the table.

    As the opening minute came to a close, Blaydes became the latest man to fall to Aspinall within the first round.

    He recently reflected on the fight and what went wrong for him in an interview with James Lynch for Inside Fighting.

    The former title challenger said that after landing some strikes of his own early on, his original game plan went out the window in that moment.

    “He starts fast, that’s the biggest thing, that’s what we knew heading into it and I kinda tossed out the game plan. We had a game plan that I was going to engage with the wrestling and engage with the clinch but I touched him early on and adrenaline kicked in and I just tossed out the game plan.

    There’s no excuse, he was the better man that night, all the praise goes to him. He landed the shot, he pounced, he got the TKO and I mean, if I gotta lose, it’s not like he’s a bum so.”

    Read also: Michael Bisping: Alex Pereira Is UFC’s No. 1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter

  • Tom Aspinall Significant Favorite For Potential Alex Pereira Fight After UFC 307

    Tom Aspinall Significant Favorite For Potential Alex Pereira Fight After UFC 307

    Alex Pereira’s latest victorious performance didn’t do enough to convince oddsmakers that he could be competitive against the UFC’s interim heavyweight king.

    Pereira boosted his claim for 2024’s Fighter of the Year by recording a third successful title defense in quick succession at Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view in Utah.

    Having turned away threats to his reign from Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka, Salt Lake City’s Delta Center played host to Pereira’s return, as he was tasked with stalling the title ambitions of Khalil Rountree.

    Despite being down two rounds early on, “Poatan” ultimately achieved that feat by rallying to brutally stop “The War Horse” in round four.

    While celebrations in the Brazilian’s camp will be ongoing, talk has unsurprisingly turned to what could lie next in his future.

    Aspinall vs. Pereira Odds Have ‘Poatan’ At +300

    There appears to be three options for Pereira: a continued stay at 205 pounds to defend his belt, a return to middleweight in pursuit of regaining the 185-pound title, or an attempt at history up at heavyweight.

    When it comes to the last of those options — which doesn’t seem to be on the table judging by Pereira’s post-fight remarks — oddsmakers are evidently not fancying the light heavyweight champ’s chances.

    Future odds posted by BetOnline.ag have Pereira as a significant +300 underdog in a possible bout with Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall.

    Aspinall has held the interim gold since last November. He’s been unable to unify the title owing to Jon Jones’ reluctance to fight him, with “Bones” and the UFC instead favoring a rescheduled showdown with Stipe Miocic next month.

    In the meantime, the Brit has successfully defended his strap against Curtis Blaydes this past summer. Should Jones retain his place on the throne and subsequently retire this year, Aspinall could find himself promoted to undisputed status.

  • MMA Analyst Highlights Tom Aspinall’s ‘Biggest Issue’ & It’s Not Less Cage Time

    MMA Analyst Highlights Tom Aspinall’s ‘Biggest Issue’ & It’s Not Less Cage Time

    Tom Aspinall would be eagerly waiting for UFC 309 featuring Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic as the main event. He’ll either get the chance to grab the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship as the backup fighter, or at the very least, he’ll know who to fight for it in the future.

    Aspinall’s run in the UFC and even his pro MMA career stand out instantly. He’s won all 15 of his MMA fights via a finish and has never entered the third round in his career.

    Till now, Aspinall has proved that he’s miles ahead of every other heavyweight fighter on the planet. While many believe that the lack of cage time and never facing adversity could backfire on the interim champ, MMA analyst Luke Thomas identifies a bigger hole in his game…

    Luke Thomas Shares ‘Bigger Concerns’ With Tom Aspinall Than Short Octagon Fight Time

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeNvjkTyRlU

    On his YouTube channel, Thomas recently discussed Aspinall’s unstoppable rise in the UFC heavyweight division. Contrary to popular opinion, he stated that even if the interim UFC heavyweight champion runs into someone who’ll last more than two rounds, he won’t be bothered as much by things like cardio or lack of experience.

    Instead, according to Thomas, Aspinall’s striking defense could lead to his first UFC loss. He pointed out how the English fighter keeps his chin up while striking and he gets hit frequently which isn’t ideal at heavyweight for obvious reasons.

    So, Aspinall’s head placement and range management in the pocket concerns Thomas about his future in the UFC. Currently, he compensates for these shortcomings through his striking speed and movement. However, if a fight goes longer and he slows down, opponents might find his chin as well.

    “My hunch is that that’s [less cage time] probably not going to be his biggest issue,” Thomas continued, “The bigger issue to me, though, like the one that shows up right away is his striking defense. His striking offense, his ability to connect, his power, his ability to cover distance, his speed is such a weapon that he can just land on anybody so quickly so incredibly. But he gets hit! And he’s got some bad habits about head position in the pocket where with what they call head slot. What slots he occupies -there’s A,B, and C slots. He, you know, his chin is kind of like, this, up, a lot of times. Those to me are bigger concerns. Because yes, if he slows down, then that could be a problem but it would actually only magnify the other part which is that there are defensive striking issues.”

    Aspinall has already beaten most of the top-ranked UFC heavyweights effortlessly. This explains why fans expect him to take on veterans like Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic who might survive the early onslaught and give the interim champ a run for his money.

  • Jon Jones’ Coach On Not Fighting Tom Aspinall Next: ‘Stipe Miocic Deserves Better…’

    Jon Jones’ Coach On Not Fighting Tom Aspinall Next: ‘Stipe Miocic Deserves Better…’

    Jon Jones’ coach, Greg Jackson, recently explained why his star pupil is slated to face Stipe Miocic next rather than Tom Aspinall.

    “Bones” is preparing for what could be both the first and final defense of his undisputed heavyweight title as he faces former champion Miocic in the headlining bout of UFC 309. The highly anticipated showdown is set for November 16 at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.

    This matchup has been a priority for Jones since his heavyweight debut in March 2023. He’s even considered retiring after potentially defeating Miocic, widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight champion.

    The Jones vs. Miocic matchup has faced considerable backlash from the MMA community, with many arguing that interim heavyweight champion Aspinall, who is also the backup fighter, is the rightful challenger.

    Some have even suggested that Jones should remain available after UFC 309 for a title unification bout. However, “Bones” has consistently dismissed the prospect, making it clear he has no interest in facing Aspinall.

    Jackson Defends Jones vs. Miocic Matchup: ‘It’s Really Two Legends Fighting Each Other’

    During a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast, Jackson was prompted to shed light on Jones’ fervor to face Miocic next, rather than focusing on rising contenders like Aspinall or Curtis Blaydes.

    The Jackson’s MMA Acoma founder elaborated that this fight represents a legacy moment for “Bones.” He emphasized that while there will always be emerging challengers, the upcoming bout at UFC 309 is a legendary clash aimed at determining who truly stands out among the elite.

    “I think because Stipe is so legendary—I mean, the guy’s one of the best heavyweights,” Jackson said. “You could argue he’s one of the best heavyweights ever—so I think that’s the challenge that Jon needs because there’s always going to be young guys coming up, there’s always going to be a new phenom, and there’s always going to be another guy that’s like, ‘Oh, this guy’s super tough.’ So I think the attraction for Jon in that is it’s really two legends fighting each other.”

    Jackson further emphasized that Jones has accomplished so much in his career that he no longer feels the need to validate himself against any competitor; he can choose whoever he wants to fight.

    “At this point in Jon’s career, he doesn’t need to fight; he could stop today and be fine. But I think that gets him up for Stipe—the idea of Stipe and how great he is, and how tough he is, and to compete against that. I think he’s looking for a legacy thing, in my opinion… I do know that we had this fight locked up before any of that drama happened, so to me, it would be a terrible move to tell Stipe, ‘Oh, never mind, we’re not gonna fight you after all; we’re gonna go after this guy.’ I mean, Stipe deserves better than that. He’s not only a great fighter but also a great guy.”

    Jones was last active when he captured the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. He was scheduled to fight Miocic at UFC 295 last November, but “Bones” was forced to withdraw just days before the bout due to a pectoral injury.

  • Former Opponent Feels LHW Jon Jones Would Fight Tom Aspinall Better Than Heavyweight

    Former Opponent Feels LHW Jon Jones Would Fight Tom Aspinall Better Than Heavyweight

    After vacating his UFC light heavyweight title, Jon Jones was inactive for three years until he finally came back as a heavyweight.

    He captured the heavyweight belt by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, but after suffering a significant injury, the champion has been gone for another long stretch of time.

    During that time, there has been a lot of talk about fans wanting him to fight the interim champion Tom Aspinall, who many believe is the present and future of the weight class.

    It looks far more likely that Jones will retire without facing Aspinall, after he meets Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 in November.

    Daniel Cormier Says Jon Jones Would Fight Better Against Tom Aspinall If He Weighed Less

    During his appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Daniel Cormier spoke about how Jones matches up with Aspinall.

    Having faced “Bones” on two occasions, “DC” said that he thinks whilst Jones’ experience is an advantage, he’s been through a lot of gruelling fights during his career.

    Cormier also said that another factor that makes him seriously consider whether Aspinall could be the first guy to beat the UFC heavyweight champion is the fact that Jones isn’t naturally suited to that weight class.

    He spent a lot of time building himself up to that frame but as a result, will sacrifice the speed that he had at light heavyweight.

    That makes Cormier believe that the heavyweight champ would fair better against a big, powerful and fast knockout artist like Aspinall if he was fighting at a smaller weight.

    “All those guys that fought him [Jones] close, that takes its toll. I think that this kid [Aspinall] is as dangerous for him as anyone he’s ever been in there with. Partly because that’s not his weight class. If he’s at 205, I bet if he’s weighing 215 [pounds], he would fight Tom Aspinall better than him weighing 245-pounds. 220 in his 205 frame, he could fight Tom Aspinall better then he’d fight him at 250 because while he didn’t last long with Ciryl, he didn’t look as fast.”

    Read also: MMA Analyst Explains Why He Doesn’t Consider Jon Jones A ‘Great Champion’

  • Francis Ngannou’s Coach Details Tom Aspinall Collaboration In Preparation For Renan Ferreira Fight

    Francis Ngannou’s Coach Details Tom Aspinall Collaboration In Preparation For Renan Ferreira Fight

    To prepare for his long awaited MMA return, Francis Ngannou is doing his training camp out in Paris before October 19.

    Any heavyweight in the sport will tell you that one of the biggest problems that they encounter is finding suitable training partners to work with.

    This is even more true when you’re preparing to fight a 6’8″ opponent in Renan Ferreira.

    Team Ngannou’s problem could have been temporarily solved this week thanks to the UFC arriving in Paris for Saturday night’s event at the Accor Arena.

    Ngannou’s coach, Eric Nicksick, has built a strong relationship with another of the world’s best heavyweights – whom he was hoping to cross paths with in the French capital.

    Eric Nicksick Says He Would’ve Loved To Connect Ngannou & Aspinall

    In a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Nicksick said that he hoped to connect Ngannou with the interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall this week.

    Unfortunately, Aspinall wasn’t making the trip over for the fights on Saturday but the Xtreme Couture coach still thinks it could happen at some stage.

    With both men being right at the top of their weight class in different promotions, the sparring videos alone would be PPV-worthy.

    He said that the short distance between England and France means that Aspinall may be able to join their camp before they leave for Saudi Arabia.

    Nicksick did say that though the Brit isn’t in town, he did offer to help out in a different way, by giving them a list of names who may be of use as sparring partners to mimic Ferreira.

    “I was hoping that he’d [Aspinall] be out here and we’d get some training in and not saying it won’t happen, maybe it can before we get out of here because he’s like an hour flight away. He’s not too far away but he was gracious enough to send me some names of his training partners and guys that we could use and try to bring out here to help out Francis but he was all about it man and Tom’s been a great friend and a great guy to have in the circle.”

    Read also: Ciryl Gane’s Absence From UFC Fight Night Card In Paris Explained

  • Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Haven’t Agreed To Tom Aspinall Backup Role

    Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Haven’t Agreed To Tom Aspinall Backup Role

    Following the official announcement for Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, Tom Aspinall was confirmed to be the back-up.

    Many have been campaiging for the interim champion to get the next shot at Jones’s heavyweight title, rather than the rescheduled clash with Miocic.

    Dana White said himself in a recent press conference that Aspinall is next for whatever happens in this division and will therefore, be in New York ready to make weight if required.

    However, this then opens up the question of whether Jones or Miocic would even contemplate fighting Aspinall on short notice, if either man does pull out before November 16.

    Daniel Cormier Calls Chael Sonnen ‘Gullible’ For Thinking That Jones & Miocic Agreed To Fight Aspinall

    In a recent episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy, Chael Sonnen asked Daniel Cormier whether he could confirm that Aspinall being the back-up means that Jones and Miocic had to sign off on it.

    Cormier’s response was to laugh at Sonnen for even suggesting that this would be a possibility, labelling him as “gullible”.

    “No, it does not mean that. What it means is now we have another opportunity for disappointment. See that’s the difference between living, hey, that’s the difference between growing up in a mansion and growing up in the ghetto. In the ghetto, you learn to expect disappointment. You learn to be let down, that is just the way it is. So guess what Chael, now you have an opportunity to be let down so step into my shoes once. If one of those dudes get hurt, neither one of them is fighting Tom Aspinall. You’re out of your mind, no way.”

    To illustrate his point, Cormier pointed to UFC 295 last year where Jones did pull out of the fight but there was a back-up fighter on hand.

    Despite Sergei Pavlovich being ready to take his place, Miocic chose to wait for “Bones”, instead which led to the creation of the interim title which was won by Aspinall.

    Cormier finished his statement by making a bold prediction of what will actually happen if either man withdraws.

    “When Jon Jones got hurt the first time, Sergei Pavlovich was the back-up fighter, who fought? Who fought? If somebody gets hurt, get ready for Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane, mark my words.”

    Read also: Former Champ Skeptical Of Michael Chandler Beating ‘Meaningful Favorite’ Charles Oliveira At UFC 309

  • Daniel Cormier Explains Why Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Won’t Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Risk vs. Reward’

    Daniel Cormier Explains Why Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Won’t Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Risk vs. Reward’

    Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic is officially scheduled for November 17, 2024, at UFC 309. The fight was originally booked to headline Madison Square Garden in 2023 but was called off because of Jones’ injury.

    This time, Aspinall will be the backup fighter for the undisputed UFC heavyweight title fight. Considering he’s been the interim champ for almost a year and has defended the belt once, many fans want him to get at least a shot at earning undisputed gold.

    In contrast to Chael Sonnen, Daniel Cormier believes that if Jones vs. Miocic doesn’t happen, none of the UFC veterans will risk fighting Tom Aspinall.

    Daniel Cormier Compares Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic To Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira To Claim Back-Up Fighters Are Irrelevant

    Sonnen and Cormier discussed the UFC 309 main event on the latest episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on the official ESPN MMA YouTube channel. “The American Gangster” stated that if Aspinall is officially the backup fighter, it is only after both “Bones” and Miocic have agreed to it.

    Cormier asked Sonnen to hold his horses, reminding him that Sergei Pavlovich was the backup fighter for Jones vs. Miocic in 2023. Similarly, Mateusz Gamrot was the backup fighter for Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev in 2023. While Pavlovich never got to fight any of the legends, Alexander Volkanovski hopped past Gamrot to fight Makhachev.

    After proving that the concept of a backup fighter is not as concrete as it sounds, Cormier also claimed that Jones and Miocic are unlikely to fight Aspinall as a backup. He admitted that none of the UFC greats are scared, but they can’t risk losing to him at the final stages of their careers.

    “It’s not even about being scared. It’s not even, it’s about risk management Chael. Whoever, if someone gets hurt in this fight, the reward versus the risk of fighting Tom Aspinall is so great, I don’t believe that either of them will do it. Love that it’s a part of the story now. We all love the story, we love a great story but I don’t know that plays.

    This applies greatly to Jones, who’s been technically undefeated his whole career. If he wants to go out with a perfect record, he’d prefer fighting an old but popular Miocic over Aspinall who’s knocking heavyweights out cold at a gallop.

    “I don’t think he’s scared Chael. But again, it’s risk vs. reward. Jon Jones, I will tell you this right now, Jon Jones. To his credit, a win over Tom Aspinall does nothing more for Jon Jones than a win over me or Vitor Belfort or Rashad Evans or Shogun Rua or Alexander Gustaffson and all these list of great fighters that he’s already beat.” Cormier added, “But losing to Tom Aspinall, losing to Tom Aspinall does do something because now you see him lose. He’s never lost. That matters to him now.”

  • Tom Aspinall Names Sean O’Malley Trait He Admires The Most

    Tom Aspinall Names Sean O’Malley Trait He Admires The Most

    Between them, UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall know a thing or two about getting opponents out of there.

    Both men are incredibly fast and accurate strikers who often rely on reading their opponents and lining them up for the perfect shot.

    The major talking point heading into O’Malley’s second title defense at UFC 306 this weekend is whether he can land that on Merab Dvalishvili without being taken down and smothered.

    “Suga” isn’t going to be an easy opponent to get hold of and though his distance control and timing makes him very dangerous on the feet, Aspinall believes that it’s his decision making that is his biggest advantage in this fight.

    Tom Aspinall Credits Sean O’Malley’s Ability To Thrive Under Pressure As A Potential Difference Maker

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4awHfVkGspA

    On a recent episode of Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab on TNT Sports, the interim heavyweight champ broke down the main event that is set to take place this weekend.

    When looking at O’Malley’s game and some of his previous fights, Aspinall drew special attention to how relaxed he is inside the Octagon.

    This allows him to stay loose, clear-minded and creative. which the Brit believes is what makes him so effective under the bright lights.

    “The timing is fantastic and as I said, how calm he is is something that I can really respect because being in there, having so much pressure on you, especially when you talk about title fights, he just makes really, really good decisions at a really good time and that’s really difficult to do.”

    O’Malley’s ability to be so calculated in the moment helps him to pick his shots and predict what his opponents are going to do next, which will be crucial against Dvalishvili at UFC 306.

    While “Suga” isn’t without his critics, Aspinall admitted that it was his big step-up against Petr Yan at UFC 280 that really sold him on O’Malley as a legitimate contender in the bantamweight division.

    “That’s only something you can do when you’re super relaxed, you can’t do that when you’re stiff in there. You have to be like almost at that playful mindset. I was kind of on the fence with him thinking ‘yeah, he’s getting fed a couple of easy opponents and this, that and the other.’ It’s the Yan fight for me ‘cuz he showed a lot or grit in that as well. We all knew how good Yan was coming into it and then it was a tough fight, in my opinion, it could have gone either way but just the grit that he showed in there. I think he got a lot of fans’ respect, at least for me anyway.”

    Read also: Teddy Atlas Says Sean O’Malley Could Cross Over To Boxing Successfully: ‘He Has The Instinct, The Talent…’

  • UFC’s Mario Bautista Predicts Fantasy Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, & Tom Aspinall Tournament (Exclusive)

    UFC’s Mario Bautista Predicts Fantasy Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, & Tom Aspinall Tournament (Exclusive)

    The next UFC heavyweight title fight would appear to be pitting arguably the greatest of all time against the best fighter we have seen in this weight class inside the Octagon.

    Despite the pedigree that both Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic bring to the table, there are two other names that the majority of fans would rather see face off with “Bones”.

    Interim champion Tom Aspinall is seen by many as the future of the division and with his speed and ability to finish fights, he’s a test that many want to see Jones face.

    Though he may have never competed at this weight, the idea of seeing light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira move up is another incredibly enticing prospect following the run that he has been on, which has turned him into one of the biggest names in the sport.

    Mario Bautista Gives His Take On How Alex Pereira, Tom Aspinall & Jon Jones Match Up

    At UFC 307, Mario Bautista is set to share the card with “Poatan” who will be defending his light heavyweight title in the main event against Khalil Rountree.

    Elsewhere on the main card, Bautista is set to take on his biggest challenge to date when he faces off with a legend of the game in Brazil’s José Aldo.

    The bantamweight contender spoke in a recent interview with MMA News about whether he thinks Pereira would be able to mix it up with the heavyweight division’s two current champions.

    He explained why, in his opinion, Aspinall would be the tougher match-up for the elite striker at 205-pounds.

    “It’s hard to say, it’s very interesting you know. He has that power and I think Jon Jones did fight at 205 too so I’d give him a shot at Jon Jones. Tom Aspinall, he can move pretty fast for how big he is so that’s the iffy one for me.”

    In a follow-up question, Bautista was asked whether this means that based on MMA math, he would also pick Aspinall to beat Jones, therefore seeing him come out on top in this little fantasy round-robin tournament.

    “I think he could. Tom Aspinall, for how big he is and how fast he moves, I don’t think Jon Jones has kind of seen anything like that so I would go with Tom on that one.”

    Read also: Gilbert Burns Addresses Future After Third Straight UFC Loss: ‘Nothing Was Good…I’ve Got To Rethink’

  • UFC Vet Rejects Notion Jon Jones’ Legacy Will Be Affected By Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘It Will Be Forgotten’ 

    UFC Vet Rejects Notion Jon Jones’ Legacy Will Be Affected By Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘It Will Be Forgotten’ 

    According to one record-holding former UFC fighter, Jon Jones isn’t at risk of hampering his legacy should he continue avoiding Tom Aspinall.

    The heavyweight title picture remains one of the most prominent and polarizing discussions currently at the surface of the MMA community, largely centering around the presence of two champions.

    First came Jones, who was crowned in his divisional debut 18 months ago. More recently, Aspinall captured interim gold by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich, a matchup that came about at Madison Square Garden after an injury to Jones delayed his clash with the returning Stipe Miocic.

    Since then, one man has recorded their first successful title defense, with Aspinall emphatically exacting his redemption against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July.

    But despite the presence of an interim titleholder who has already withstood one challenge, both Jones and the UFC remain steadfast on rescheduling the bout against Miocic. The pair are now expected to give their matchup a second go at reaching the cage this November, once again at the annual MSG-held pay-per-view.

    That fact has left Aspinall and many fans, fighters, and pundits bemused. Some have even gone as far as to suggest that avoiding a unification fight with his interim counterpart will leave a negative, lasting impact on Jones’ legacy.

    According to Matt Brown, news isn’t remembered long enough for that to be the case…

    Brown Doubts Jones ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Will Be Remembered

    During the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown gave his take on the current championship conversation at heavyweight.

    “The Immortal,” who retired earlier this year as the record holder for most knockouts and finishes in UFC welterweight history, believes that should Jones defeat Miocic at UFC 309 and subsequently retire over meeting the challenge of Aspinall, it would simply be “forgotten” down the line.

    “The fact is, it will be forgotten,” Brown said. “No matter what Tom does. If Jon retires after he beats Stipe, we’re in the age of news is news for a day. Maybe for a day or two, there will be some people on Reddit saying Jon was scared of Tom or whatever. By next week or whatever…he’ll still be the greatest ever. No one’s going to be like, ‘Oh, Jon’s not the greatest ever because he didn’t fight Tom Aspinall.’ I don’t think a single person’s going to say that. They’re just going to talk a little bit of silly stuff for a couple of days and it will be completely forgotten.

    “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t remember Jon ever saying, ‘I’m out here now to try to be the greatest heavyweight.’ He’s like, ‘I’m the greatest fighter, I got that in the bag. I’m the greatest fighter of all time. I’m going to fight a couple heavyweight fights. Yeah, I might be a little bit picky about who I fight. I’m the greatest fighter of all time, b*tch. I get to pick my fights now,’” Brown continued. “I don’t remember him ever saying, ‘I’m out here to attempt to prove I can also be the greatest heavyweight.’ He’s like, ‘No, I’m moving up to get a couple paydays, getting some big fights, having some fun, not have to cut weight, and move on with my life.’”

    Talk of Jones’ potential GOAT status has been a prominent topic as of late, largely thanks to UFC CEO Dana White’s staunch campaigning for the heavyweight kingpin to be moved back to top position in the pound-for-pound pecking order.

    It remains to be seen whether Aspinall will get his wish to share the cage with Jones. But as Brown noted, the Rochester native appears to be paying more attention to his overall place in MMA lore as opposed to a heavyweight legacy.

  • Rising UK Contender Lerone Murphy Feels Jon Jones ‘Deserves’ Special Treatment To Avoid Tom Aspinall Fight

    Rising UK Contender Lerone Murphy Feels Jon Jones ‘Deserves’ Special Treatment To Avoid Tom Aspinall Fight

    Lerone Murphy recently suggested that Jon Jones warrants special deference to avoid a potential showdown with Tom Aspinall.

    Aspinall’s patience appears to be wearing thin as he persistently calls out Jones for a UFC heavyweight title unification bout. The interim heavyweight champion has been unreservedly articulate about his eagerness to challenge “Bones” ever since he claimed the title at UFC 295 last November.

    However, “Bones” has shown little interest in the much-anticipated matchup with Aspinall. Instead of considering a showdown, the reigning heavyweight champion has made it clear that his focus is firmly on fighting Stipe Miocic, a bout expected to headline UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden this November.

    Jones has often teased the possibility of retiring after conquering an esteemed former heavyweight champion like Miocic, which would further solidify his status as the GOAT. Meanwhile, “The Miracle” believes that with everything Jones has already accomplished in the sport, there’s no need for him to prove himself against Aspinall…

    Murphy Thinks Jones Enjoys Perks Uncommon To Other Fighters

    During a recent interview with Title Sports Network, Murphy weighed in on the escalating tension between Jones and Aspinall, noting that things have taken a turn for the worse. The undefeated featherweight contender remarked that Aspinall should have taken a tougher stance from the start. However, he doubts his fellow countryman will secure the fight he’s after, as Jones enjoys certain well-earned privileges from the UFC.

    “I think he should have been doing that from the get-go,” Murphy said. “Obviously, he’s being respectful of the greatest of all time, and I feel like he should be doing that, and it’s good, but I don’t think he’s going to get the fight. But yeah, it’s good for him to do. I feel like Jon’s getting the treatment he deserves, though, but he’s getting a different treatment than everybody else because usually if there’s an interim champion, you have to come back and fight the champion.”

    Jones last graced the Octagon in March 2023, where he claimed the heavyweight title with a decisive submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. He was set to defend his title for the first time against Miocic at UFC 295, but “Bones” was compelled to withdraw just two weeks before the fight due to a severe pectoral injury.

  • ‘It’s Not Good!’ – Chael Sonnen Predicts Tom Aspinall Could Suffer The Same Fate As Ronda Rousey Against Jon Jones

    ‘It’s Not Good!’ – Chael Sonnen Predicts Tom Aspinall Could Suffer The Same Fate As Ronda Rousey Against Jon Jones

    Although Jon Jones will most likely be booked to fight Stipe Miocic next, his rivalry with Tom Aspinall is also heating up on the sidelines. The interim UFC heavyweight champion is eager to unify the belts, requiring him to face the winner of Jones vs. Miocic.

    Aspinall has bagged 15 wins since turning pro in MMA, and all of them have been stoppages via KO or submission. On top of that, he’s finished all but one fight in the UFC in the first round. This explains why fans consider him to be Jones’ real test instead of Miocic, who hasn’t fought since losing to Francis Ngannou in 2021.

    Aspinall has looked unstoppable till now, but Chael Sonnen has concerns about him not being tested enough in the Octagon yet…

    Chael Sonnen Highlights Striking Similarities In Early UFC Careers Of Tom Aspinall And Ronda Rousey

    Sonnen discussed the rivalry between Aspinall and Jones on his YouTube channel recently. He believes that the interim champ bringing up the undisputed kingpin’s past PED usage was bound to rub the latter the wrong way.

    “The American Gangster” then stated that a fight between “Bones” and Aspinall, if it happens, will likely be scheduled for UFC International Fight Week in 2025. It might be hard for Aspinall to get an opponent during this time as the interim champ, and his inactivity would work in favor of the former UFC light heavyweight champion.

    Sonnen also revealed the downside of Aspinall firing through the competition with such ease so far. His rise to the top resembles Ronda Rousey, who had 11 first-round finishes in her pro career, including five in the UFC.

    “I’m not sure you understand that. That is not helpful, that is not a good thing. It looks good and it sounds good, it’s not good! When you find yourself in a fight harder than you’re used to, it’s a problem for everybody. It is the number one reason that Ronda lost to Holly Holm. It was not the right leg kick. It was because the six other girls that Ronda had been in there with checked out collectively in a shorter time than Holly had made it. That was the problem. It’s a problem for everyone. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

    According to the former UFC middleweight title contender, Rousey lost to Holly Holm because she wasn’t used to opponents surviving her initial onslaught. As soon as someone put her to the test, she was overwhelmed and it all came crashing down.

    Sonnen fears that Aspinall might have similar problems if he takes on an opponent as durable and experienced as Jones. For now, though, there is no way to confirm whether we’ll ever see the two meet in the Octagon.

  • Former UFC Heavyweight Champ Joins Quinton Jackson In Favoring Jon Jones Against Tom Aspinall: ‘GOAT Of Our Sport!’

    Former UFC Heavyweight Champ Joins Quinton Jackson In Favoring Jon Jones Against Tom Aspinall: ‘GOAT Of Our Sport!’

    The UFC heavyweight division has been a hot topic in MMA circles lately. Dana White is adamant about booking current champ Jon Jones against Stipe Miocic in 2024. On the flip side, fans seem more interested in seeing “Bones” take on Tom Aspinall who defended his interim belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 via first-round TKO.

    Jones has yet to defend his UFC heavyweight championship since beating Ciryl Gane for it in March 2023. A shoulder injury forced him out of action for almost a year, and the delay in his return has led to many opposing Miocic getting a title shot despite not fighting in over three years.

    Although there’s no guarantee that it will happen, Frank Mir has picked Jones to beat Aspinall if they ever fight in the UFC…

    Frank Mir Believes Jon Jones Has A 90% Chance Of Beating Tom Aspinall In The UFC Heavyweight Division

    Mir discussed a potential fight between Jones and Aspinall on the talkSPORT MMA YouTube channel recently. He acknowledged that the English heavyweight is quite skilled but just doesn’t see him beating the UFC light heavyweight GOAT in the next 12 months.

    “Jon’s the GOAT of our sport right now. I get that Tom, and I totally don’t blame him. I would do everything if I was Tom Aspinall. I would do everything I possibly could, maybe show up at his house, get him pissed enough to take that fight because that could just catapult his career.”

    The former UFC heavyweight champ believes that Aspinall won’t be able to submit or even take down Jones due to the latter’s superior wrestling. He backed this claim by mentioning Jones’ two wins over Daniel Cormier, arguably one of the best wrestlers to ever fight in the UFC.

    “If you said, put my money down on it. If they fought this year or fought within 12 months from now, from what I know training with Jon, from what I’ve seen from Tom, I think Jon has about a 70 to 80, 90% chance of winning the fight.”

    “If Tom closes distance, he’s never submitting Jon. And, Jon outwrestles him absolutely. They had a take down contest, he can’t take Jon down one time, zero. Absolutely zero. Jon’s wrestling is unreal. If Jon had gone a different path in life, and maybe had not problem in school, he would have absolutely been the Olympic world champion at wrestling, you know. That’s just the part of me. He outwrestled Cormier, you know what I mean? Cormier’s accolades in wrestling are through the roof.”

    Mir added that Aspinall’s explosive and fast striking, especially for a heavyweight, could be his only way to victory against Jones. He remembered the likes of Vitor Belfort and Dominick Reyes who had success against “Bones” due to their speed advantage in striking exchanges.

    Interestingly, former rival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson also favored Jones to win against Aspinall for similar reasons in a recent interview with Inside Fighting. The former UFC light heavyweight kingpin praised the interim UFC heavyweight champ’s skills but doesn’t think it’ll be enough for him to unify the title against the current undisputed champion.

  • Jake Paul Tries To Broker Multi-Million Dollar Payday For “Bones” To Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Jon Jones Doesn’t Dodge Anyone’

    Jake Paul Tries To Broker Multi-Million Dollar Payday For “Bones” To Fight Tom Aspinall: ‘Jon Jones Doesn’t Dodge Anyone’

    Jake Paul recently attempted to broker a multi-million dollar deal to entice Jon Jones into a showdown with Tom Aspinall.

    Since capturing the interim heavyweight title with a knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023—an opportunity that arose after “Bones” had to withdraw from his undisputed title clash with Stipe Miocic due to injury—Aspinall has been unabashedly outspoken about his desire to test himself against Jones in a title unification bout.

    However, Jones has consistently dismissed the challenge, even going so far as to disparage Aspinall’s standing as the interim champion. Rather than entertain a clash with Aspinall, the reigning heavyweight titleholder has made it clear that his sights are set on rekindling his bout with Miocic, a showdown that is rumored to headline UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden this November.

    “Bones” has frequently hinted at the prospect of retirement after defeating a legendary heavyweight champion like Miocic, thereby cementing his GOAT status. Many speculate that this might be why Jones is hesitant to risk his legacy against a formidable contender like Aspinall.

    However, “The Problem Child” suggests that the real reason Jones is sidestepping the Brit’s challenge is the lack of a lucrative payday on the table…

    Paul Claims Jones Would Accept Aspinall Bout If The Paycheck Fits

    Paul, well-known for his frequent critiques of UFC fighter pay, recently took to X to refute the narrative that Jones is avoiding a fight with Aspinall. The YouTuber-turned-boxer argued that Jones isn’t one to shy away from any opponent but suggested that the real issue lies in the financial incentive.

    He believes that if the right financial deal is presented, tapping into both the American and English pay-per-view (PPV) markets, Jones would be more than willing to step into the Octagon with Aspinall.

    “Jon Jones doesn’t dodge anyone. He knows exactly what he’s doing,” Paul tweeted. “Show him the money – that real money. Not that spin the narrative money. Him versus Aspinal is massive as it hits two big PPV markets. A $25M guarantee plus PPV seems about right. @JonnyBones”

    During a post-event press conference for DWCS, UFC CEO Dana White suggested that, despite Jones’s occasional talk of retirement, he is confident that “if the Aspinall thing is really flying out there,” Jones would rise to the occasion and accept the matchup.