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Tag: Tom Aspinall

  • Jon Jones Has NSFW Response To Tom Aspinall Labeling Him The ‘Champion Of Fight Dodging’: ‘I Absolutely Guarantee He Will Not Win…’

    Jon Jones Has NSFW Response To Tom Aspinall Labeling Him The ‘Champion Of Fight Dodging’: ‘I Absolutely Guarantee He Will Not Win…’

    The war of words between UFC heavyweight champions Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is still going on. despite the fact that it seems unlikely that they will fight one another.

    Interim champ Aspinall has previously said that he is no longer focused on fighting “Bones” before he calls time on his career.

    Many expect that Jones will retire after fighting former champ Stipe Miocic later this year. following a long recovery process from the injury that forced him out of his title defense at UFC 295 last year.

    While the Brit may be ready to move on, he has become more vocal when taking little digs at Jones which, in fairness, is only a response to some of the comments that Jones has been making.

    In a recent social media clip that was posted by Sport Bible, Aspinall was asked who the champion of ducking fights is and obviously, he had an answer already in mind.

    “Fight dodging? That would have to be Jon Jones wouldn’t it. We know he’s trying to fight old man Stipe, well he’s going to fight old man Stipe so he’s the fight dodger around here.”

    Jon Jones Hits Back At Tom Aspinall’s ‘Fight Dodger’ Comment With Fiery Response

    Jones responded to their particular statement from Aspinall directly via a reply underneath the post.

    Most of his comments about the interim champion have come from interactions with MMA fans on X but this time, he fired straight back at the interim titleholder and didn’t hold back either.

    In a NSFW post, the consensus greatest of all time reminded his fellow heavyweight and the fans just what he has accomplished in his career.

    He also referenced how Aspinall won’t stop talking about him which appears to be true on both sides, despite Jones being lined up to fight Miocic next.

    “This dude literally has my large black c*** in his mouth every week. I’m flattered. I absolutely guarantee he will not win more world championships than me. That’s truly all that matters at the end of the day. There’s been good champions, no one like me. I sleep good at night.”

    Read also: Tom Aspinall Sneakily Reveals Why He Looks Up To Stipe Miocic More Than Jon Jones: ‘Don’t Make Me Say It!’

  • PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World

    PFL Executive Says Tom Aspinall vs. Ngannou & Ferreira Winner Determines Best Heavyweight In The World

    The heavyweight division in MMA has gone through a lot of changes over the last few years.

    From Francis Ngannou leaving the UFC and vacating his heavyweight title, to Jon Jones debuting in the weight class and becoming champion, to the ongoing situation regrading him, Stipe Miocic and interim champ Tom Aspinall.

    Ngannou is set to make his long awaited return to MMA when he debuts in the PFL on October 19 against PFL champion, Renan Ferreira.

    The fight will see the winner claim the PFL Super Fights belt but with Ngannou never losing his UFC title, he has to be in the conversation for still being the best out there and therefore, Ferreira can also enter that discussion with a win.

    Dan Hardy On Who The Best Heavyweight In The World Is

    In a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, PFL commentator Dan Hardy gave his thoughts on the magnitude of the fight that is billed as “Battle of the Giants”.

    The Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe believes that Ngannou versus Ferreira is the very highest level in the heavyweight division.

    For what it’s worth, he also weighed in on the current Jones, Miocic, and Aspinall debate, making it clear who his pick is for the best of the bunch.

    “We’re potentially going to find out who the best heavyweight is on the planet. There’s a lot of conversation on the other side around Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, Miocic, etc. Right now for me, Tom Aspinall is head & shoulders above Jon Jones and Stipe just based on his activity.”

    With Aspinall being his pick for the best heavyweight in the UFC, Hardy said that a fight between the Brit and the winner of Ngannou vs. Ferreira may be the very pinnacle of the weight class.

    “But, then you compare Tom Aspinall to Ngannou and Ferreira and that might be the fight to determine who the best heavyweight is on the planet, the winner of the Ngannou-Ferreira fight and then Tom Aspinall. It’s exciting. As an MMA fan, I love speculating about these things, it’s very rare that we get to match a current PFL champion against the heavyweight king of the world, Francis Ngannou.”

    Read also: Glover Teixeira Gives His Verdict On Alex Pereira Weight Class Move

  • Jon Jones Continues To Justify Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘Francis Would’ve Knocked Out 98% Of People, But Somehow Stipe Is Washed?’

    Jon Jones Continues To Justify Avoiding Tom Aspinall: ‘Francis Would’ve Knocked Out 98% Of People, But Somehow Stipe Is Washed?’

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones won’t have his stance affected.

    The topic of Jones’ first title defense has long raged on. While it was initially set to come eight months on from his crowning in a divisional debut opposite Ciryl Gane, it’s now been 17 months since he completed multi-weight glory at the Frenchman’s expense.

    A planned bout against Stipe Miocic last November fell away due to an injury for Jones, throwing the division up in the air. The surging Tom Aspinall was subsequently crowned interim champ at the Madison Square Garden-held event.

    But despite the presence of another titleholder, both Jones and the UFC have remained firm on plans to reschedule the clash with Miocic. Criticism of that only increased when the Brit defended his gold with a first-round knockout of Curtis Blaydes last month in Manchester.

    Many of those against Jones and Miocic sharing the cage for the title have pointed to the latter’s layoff. The heavyweight legend hasn’t competed since suffering a brutal knockout at the hands of Francis Ngannou three and a half years ago and is now 42 years old.

    But Jones has frequently dismissed the suggestion that he’s chasing a lower level of opposition, defending Miocic against those branding him “washed.” That trend continued in a social media post this week, with the Rochester native branding anyone who follows that line of thought a “casual.”

    “Man, I appreciate the boss and the comments he made at last nights press conference. Sounds like I have some massive options on the table, an athletes dream,” Jones wrote. “Right now I need to get back to focusing on the task at hand. Despite what some of the casuals think, Stipe is really no joke. It’s crazy that we live in a world where you can go from the best heavyweight ever to washed up after a bad performance. The reality is Francis would’ve knocked out 98% of people on the planet that night, but somehow Stipe is washed up?

    “Stipe not competing in so long tells me that he’s had plenty of time to heal and rebuild. Let me get back to focusing on the actual task at hand, that’s what got me this far. My focus, I do what others can’t,” Jones added.

    Fans Make Their Voices Heard After Jones’ Latest Refusal To Unify UFC Heavyweight Division

    Unsurprisingly, Jones’ latest post reiterating his avoidance of Aspinall and stance that nothing but a showdown with the returning Miocic should be next drew out plenty of reactions on social media.

    While plenty berated the former light heavyweight champ, accusing him of “ducking” his British counterpart, some others backed Jones’ right to finish out his career in the way he chooses.

    https://twitter.com/OG1BonnyP/status/1826284180772475126
    https://twitter.com/bewarethArchons/status/1826283582593355790
    https://twitter.com/bewarethArchons/status/1826282321085112478
  • Tom Aspinall Sneakily Reveals Why He Looks Up To Stipe Miocic More Than Jon Jones: ‘Don’t Make Me Say It!’

    Tom Aspinall Sneakily Reveals Why He Looks Up To Stipe Miocic More Than Jon Jones: ‘Don’t Make Me Say It!’

    Tom Aspinall defended the interim UFC heavyweight title against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. Since then, demands for a fight between him and the undisputed kingpin Jon Jones have increased significantly.

    Regardless, it looks like Jones will return to the Octagon against Stipe Miocic before the end of 2024. On top of that, the former UFC light heavyweight champion has repeatedly hinted at hanging up his gloves after the fight.

    Aspinall has always respected Jones and Miocic for their illustrious careers. However, he recently revealed why the latter is a better role model for him…

    Tom Aspinall Isn’t A Fan Of Jon Jones And Anderson Silva Being Involved In PED Usage

    Aspinall talked about Jones and Miocic on the official Michael Bisping YouTube channel recently. He praised both the veterans for their contributions to MMA but clarified that he relates more to the former UFC heavyweight champion.

    “Well, I look to Stipe more because the… Don’t make me say it Anthony. Don’t make me say it!”

    For starters, the interim UFC heavyweight champion believes that failing drug tests directly affects the legacies of greats like Jones and Anderson Silva. Despite holding some of the most celebrated UFC records, both fighters have been heavily criticized in MMA circles for PED usage.

    “If there’s anything about drug tests going on, that’s a bit of an asterisk next to your name. Do you know what I mean? If there’s a drug test going. Same as, you know, when people talk about Anderson Silva being the best of all time. You know, he definitely was, but there was definitely some other stuff going on there.”

    Miocic, on the other hand, has a record six title wins in the UFC heavyweight division. He’s never been accused of using PEDs, which is one of the main reasons why Aspinall picked him as a more suitable role model over Jones.

    “I mean, I don’t know either guy personally but Stipe seems more my type of human being.”

    Aspinall made sure not to delve into Jones’ personal life, though. He aims to fight “Bones” only to unify the UFC heavyweight title and has no interest in taking a jab at the veteran’s notorious past.

    READ MORE: Sean Strickland Shares Unpopular Opinion On Former UFC Middleweight Champ: ‘I Just Don’t Think Izzy’s That Good!’

  • Tom Aspinall Has High Praise For Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305: ‘One Of The Smartest Fighters In The UFC’ 

    Tom Aspinall Has High Praise For Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305: ‘One Of The Smartest Fighters In The UFC’ 

    Count Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall among those majorly impressed by Dricus Du Plessis’ performance Down Under this past weekend.

    Du Plessis made the walk at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, to put his middleweight gold on the line against the returning Israel Adesanya. The pair met in the UFC 305 main event, following an undercard that included standout wins for the likes of Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France.

    “The Last Stylebender” couldn’t make it three wins from three for Auckland’s City Kickboxing gym, with his South African counterpart finding a submission in round four to emerge victorious from a competitive and enthralling headliner.

    Having long been doubted owing to his unusual approach to fighting, Du Plessis has no doubt been enjoying his victory lap, laughing at those who spoke ill of his chances against Adesanya.

    “Stillknocks” has been getting increased respect and praise from many after successfully defending his gold for the first time, and not many plaudits have come grander than those of the interim heavyweight champ…

    Aspinall On Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘Just Looked Fantastic Out There’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Aspinall reacted to his promotion’s latest PPV event and the matchup that concluded it inside the RAC Arena.

    Aspinall shared a common sentiment when it comes to deciphering what it is about Du Plessis that makes him so effective. Whatever it is, the heavyweight champ is impressed, so much so that he placed the South African among the most intelligent athletes currently competing on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “DDP, you can’t count this guy out,” Aspinall said. “I watch fights as a fan, but I also watch fights as a fighter to try and pick up little nuances, and I love to study different styles. For me personally, DDP is a guy who I’m baffled by, in all honesty. I’m completely baffled by his style because you watch him and, to be brutally honest, he looks a little bit inferior to his opponents in terms of technique, but it’s amazing to watch because he obviously isn’t inferior.

    “The gameplans that this guy and his coaches are doing are absolutely unbelievable. Me personally, I think he’s one of the smartest fighters in the UFC and his team must be very, very smart as well,” Aspinall continued. “The guy just finds a way to win. He’s extremely physically strong. … He looks a little bit messy, and I’m sure we all can agree on that. But he makes up for it in spirit, his will to win, and persistence. If he doesn’t get what he’s going for, he will keep going and grind his opponents down until he gets it. He just looked fantastic out there (at UFC 305).”

    Like Aspinall, plenty have been confused by Du Plessis’ style and continued success, be it more fellow fighters, veteran analysts, or fans.

    But the South African has evidently found an approach that works incredibly well for him, and having proved his detractors wrong yet again, perhaps questions surrounding his unorthodox strategies will die down as his title reign continues on its way.

  • Tom Aspinall Pays Rich Tribute To Israel Adesanya Ahead Of UFC 305: ‘I Have Learned A Lot Just From Watching Him…’

    Tom Aspinall Pays Rich Tribute To Israel Adesanya Ahead Of UFC 305: ‘I Have Learned A Lot Just From Watching Him…’

    Tom Aspinall recently heaped praise on Israel Adesanya, expressing admiration for the former UFC middleweight champion’s fighting style and acknowledging how much he has learned from studying his techniques.

    “The Last Stylebender” is gearing up to make his comeback to the Octagon and challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in the headlining bout of the upcoming pay-per-view event, scheduled for August 17 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

    After suffering a shocking title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September, the Nigerian-born Kiwi took a voluntary sabbatical to prioritize his mental health. Now, after 11 months of reflection and recovery, he’s returning to active competition with a renewed focus.

    Adesanya is regarded as one of the most dominant middleweight champions in UFC history, boasting five successful title defenses. However, Izzy’s fortunes have taken a downturn in the past couple of years, starting with his first-ever middleweight defeat—a dramatic fifth-round TKO at the hands of his arch-nemesis, Alex Pereira, at UFC 281 in November 2022.

    As an expert in distance control and fluid striking himself, Aspinall holds a deep respect for the finesse that defines Adesanya’s elite fighting style…

    Aspinall Says Adesanya’s Style Is From ‘Different Universe’

    During a recent interview with TNT Sports, Aspinall broke down how Adesanya expertly dismantles his opponents with a unique blend of unorthodox striking, a key factor behind his success in the Octagon.

    The interim UFC heavyweight champion expressed profound respect for Adesanya and said that he has even incorporated elements of it into his own game.

    “Israel Adesanya, such contrasting styles and by the way, if you’re not an Izzy fan, what are you?” Aspinall said. “I mean, the guy’s an absolute technician. The thing with Izzy is the styles are so different, they’re on different universes, you know what I mean? They’re never mind a different spectrum. The way that Izzy fights is he has his hands low a bit, and he will constantly keep you guessing. But because he’s so long—6’4” at middleweight is so tall for a middleweight—he’ll do this kind of stuff a lot. He’s so good with his kicks; he fakes with the legs as well, so he’ll be doing a lot of this, then he’ll be coming up.

    We’ve seen him with his chopping leg kicks, we’ve seen him with the high kicks. He’s just so long, and he reads the fight so well. He’s had so many fights now as well. I’ve learned a lot just from watching him, do you know what I mean?”

    Aspinall also offered his prediction for the upcoming clash between Du Plessis and Adesanya. He suggested that “Stillknocks” will have a tough time keeping up with the elusive former champ, likely ending up on the receiving end of some devastating, fight-altering strikes as he tries to close the distance.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8wciGnKi8U&list=TLPQMTMwODIwMjQhEfVUN3cc_w&t=1797s

    “I would say it’s almost like the bull and the matador, this fight. It’s like we’ve got the bull in DDP [Du Plessis]; he’s coming forward, you know what you’re going to get with him—he’s closing the space, trying to kill you. On the other hand, he’s [Adesanya] staying out of the way, doing his feints, and it’s just such a contrast of styles. As a massive fan of MMA myself, I just can’t wait to see it.”

    “The Last Stylebender” is on the verge of making history. A victory on Saturday night could see him join the ranks of the legendary Randy Couture by securing an undisputed title in a third division—an achievement that would undoubtedly cement his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

  • Tom Aspinall: Stipe Miocic Needs To Be ‘Joe Biden’d’ To Allow Title Unification Against Jon Jones

    Tom Aspinall: Stipe Miocic Needs To Be ‘Joe Biden’d’ To Allow Title Unification Against Jon Jones

    Tom Aspinall is pushing for Stipe Miocic to be replaced in his potential bout with Jon Jones, much like Joe Biden was swapped out in the 2024 United States Presidential election.

    For context, Biden stepped out of the presidential race in July following a challenging debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump, which raised significant scrutiny about the sitting President’s mental readiness for another term.

    Amid mounting pressure for the UFC to cancel Miocic’s planned title shot against the reigning heavyweight champion, UFC CEO Dana White has made it clear that the fight is still on. White has resolutely stood by his decision to reschedule the matchup, which was originally set for November 2023 at UFC 295 but had to be postponed after “Bones” suffered a serious pectoral injury.

    Consequently, Aspinall capitalized on the opportunity at UFC 295, stepping in to claim the interim heavyweight title with a knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. The 31-year-old Salford native has eagerly called for a title unification bout against Jones. However, “Bones” has consistently dismissed the challenge, showing more interest in rebooking his showdown with Miocic instead.

    The British powerhouse then defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes with a first-round knockout at UFC 304, avenging his only UFC defeat. Following this triumph, Aspinall made it clear that his sights are set solely on a title unification bout as his next challenge…

    Aspinall Targets Miocic’s Slot In Upcoming Jones Fight

    During a recent interview with TNT Sports, Aspinall suggested that Miocic should follow Biden’s lead and step aside for the upcoming title clash against Jones, which is expected to take place at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 16.

    “Get Stipe out of there; let’s be honest. The guy is 43 years old, he’s had a four-year layoff, and his last fight was a knockout loss,” Aspinall said. “Granted, he’s an absolute legend in this sport. He’s the best heavyweight ever — like statistically, he’s the best heavyweight ever. But the guy needs to be pulled out of the race. The guy needs to be Joe Biden’d, mate. He’s too old. No one’s that interested anymore. And I respect Stipe a lot. Pull him out, stick me in. It’s right though, isn’t it? It is right. Who’s got bothered about that anymore?”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8wciGnKi8U&list=TLPQMTMwODIwMjQhEfVUN3cc_w&t=624s

    Miocic is set to turn 42 on August 19. The former two-time UFC heavyweight champion was seen in action in March 2021, when he lost his title in a crushing second-round knockout defeat to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260.

    Meanwhile, Jones last graced the Octagon at UFC 285 in March 2023, where he captured the heavyweight title with a dominant submission victory over Ciryl Gane.

  • Jon Anik Differs From Dana White On Jon Jones’ Future: ‘If I Could Get A Betting Line On Jones vs. Aspinall Never F*cking Happening…’ 

    Jon Anik Differs From Dana White On Jon Jones’ Future: ‘If I Could Get A Betting Line On Jones vs. Aspinall Never F*cking Happening…’ 

    Unlike UFC CEO Dana White, Jon Anik isn’t confident that Jon Jones sticks around to fight interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

    Not many topics have remained at the surface of the mixed martial arts community in 2024 quite like the UFC’s heavyweight title picture, which currently boasts two champions but uncertainty regarding whether they will ever face each other.

    That problem arose after an injury to Jones late last year saw his planned defense against Stipe Miocic canceled and an interim titleholder crowned in his absence. And when Aspinall captured that belt, talk turned to a unification showdown.

    However, both Jones and the UFC have other plans, remaining firm on rearranging the Miocic fight for the Madison Square Garden event this November. In the meantime, Aspinall has recorded the first successful defense of his gold, knocking out Curtis Blaydes in quick time at UFC 304 last month.

    While the Brit — as well as plenty of fans and analysts — has expressed doubt over his dream fight with Jones reaching the Octagon, White recently predicted that the all-time great will delay a possible retirement should he defeat Miocic in order to face the challenge of Aspinall.

    But the man who would be tasked with calling that monumental heavyweight clash doesn’t have high hopes…

    Anik Doesn’t Share White’s Confidence On Jones vs. Miocic Coming To Fruition

    During the latest episode of his podcast alongside ex-fighter Kenny Florian, Anik gave his take on the current status of the championship conversation at heavyweight.

    The longtime play-by-play commentator shared White’s sentiment when it comes to Jones wanting to challenge himself against the division’s highly regarded interim champ. Anik doesn’t, however, believe that feeling will be stronger than the Rochester native’s desire to protect his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “I would agree with Dana White in so far as that Jon Jones, if he beats Stipe Miocic, would want to challenge himself against someone like Tom Aspinall,” Anik said. “And what better way to put a capstone on your career as the consensus greatest MMA fighter of all time than to beat a guy in Tom Aspinall who is all the rage at present, and a guy who many forecast to be the greatest mixed martial arts heavyweight of all time. I think he wants the challenge — not at the expense of his legacy.

    “If he can beat Stipe Miocic as a -350 betting favorite and ride off into the Albuquerque sunset, I am expectant that that is what he is going to do,” Anik continued. “I know Dana and others have said they’d be surprised if Jon doesn’t bite off that Aspinall challenge if he beats Stipe. I would, with respect, go the other way. If I could get a betting line on Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall never f*cking happening, I would ask my wife if I could, you know, spend several figures on that.”

    For now, Jones appears to be ramping up his physical activity as he prepares to make his way back from injury later this year. What comes after a potential victory over the returning Miocic, however, remains to be seen.

  • ‘And People Act Like He Won’t Do This To Aspinall’ – Fans React To Video Of Jon Jones’ Elite Grappling With Gordon Ryan

    ‘And People Act Like He Won’t Do This To Aspinall’ – Fans React To Video Of Jon Jones’ Elite Grappling With Gordon Ryan

    Jon Jones may be the most skilled mixed martial artist that the sport has ever seen.

    What can easily be forgotten about when it comes to the skills that “Bones” brings to the table is his high-level grappling which he rarely uses.

    For the majority of his run in the light heavyweight division, Jones chose to strike with opponents instead which shows how well-rounded he is.

    Fans did get another quick glimpse at his grappling ability in his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane, where he was able to quickly secure a takedown and guillotine submission to become world champion in another weight class.

    With all of this being said, large sections of the MMA fanbase haven’t been willing to give Jones his flowers as of late due to the ongoing conversation around him and the interim champion, Tom Aspinall.

    MMA Fans React As Jon Jones Holds His Own With Gordon Ryan

    A recent video on social media showed yet another look at Jones’ high-level grappling as he mixed it up on the mats with Gordon Ryan.

    As well as being a big and powerful athlete, Ryan is one of the best jiu-jitsu competitors ever and at least in this clip, “Bones” is able to hold his own.

    As is the case with everything that Jones posts as of late, many of the replies underneath were in reference to a potential fight with Aspinall, which fans have been very outspoken about.

    Whilst some believe that this fight is to make instead of having him return against Stipe Miocic, others have sided with the heavyweight champion and believe that the Aspinall hype train has gotten out of hand.

    “And people act like he won’t do this to Aspinall in a f***in heartbeat”

    “BREAKING NEWS Dana White’s burner account gets leaked under the account name ‘blonded’”

    “I realized after he cooked Gane”

    “People don’t realize how small Gordon Ryan is compared to Tom Aspinall.”

    “Jones would beat Aspinall easily. Respect the GOAT”

    https://twitter.com/DeWizard7/status/1821771447137636662

    “No way you think Gordon Ryan was actually trying???”

    “I don’t wanna hear anybody saying Aspinall beats him”

    Read also: TJ Dillashaw Criticises Anthony Smith: ‘He Doesn’t Have That Dog In Him…’

  • ‘Training The Triathlon To Run Away From Aspinall’ – MMA Fans Hijack Jon Jones’ Social Media

    ‘Training The Triathlon To Run Away From Aspinall’ – MMA Fans Hijack Jon Jones’ Social Media

    The UFC has always had a reputation for giving the fans the fights that they want to see but right now, it appears that what they want most is something they can’t have.

    Jon Jones is, by many people’s estimations, especially Dana White’s, the best to ever step inside the Octagon and after winning the heavyweight title, it makes sense that he would want to take on arguably the best UFC heavyweight ever, Stipe Miocic.

    Some had issues with the fight when it was first announced for UFC 295 last November due to the amount of time that Miocic has been out for and the fact that his last fight was a loss.

    This outcry only became far louder when an injury to Jones pushed the fight back another year, with Tom Aspinall then going on to become the interim champion.

    Fans have been constantly calling for Jones to unify the heavyweight title next against Aspinall, rather than fighting Miocic, even if that simply isn’t going to happen.

    MMA Fans Continue Relentless Push For Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall

    With Jones even offering up a phone number that people can call if they want to see the Aspinall fight happen, he’s very aware of fan sentiment because he sees it under everything he posts.

    The heavyweight champion’s latest social media video shows him doing lengths in the pool and even that wasn’t safe from scrutiny regarding the Aspinall fight.

    “Just when you thought it was safe …”

    https://twitter.com/Jabjitsu/status/1820974319112953884

    “When are you fighting Tom?”

    “You should consider getting into the deep end with Tom.”

    “Ducks do like to swim, after all.”

    “Jon training the Triathlon to run away from Aspinall.”

    “Relinquish your belt”

    https://twitter.com/Fargolde/status/1820965971357790689

    “Tom owns u lil buddy. Less swimming more fighting.”

    “Imagine how good it’d feel to be back in the octagon fighting contenders instead of holding up a division.”

    Read also: BREAKING: Francis Ngannou’s MMA Return Official For PFL Super Fight Card On Oct. 19, Cris Cyborg Co-Headlines

  • Ben Askren Calls Out UFC’s Hypocrisy In Not Booking Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘That’s What Boxing Does’

    Ben Askren Calls Out UFC’s Hypocrisy In Not Booking Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: ‘That’s What Boxing Does’

    Former UFC fighter Ben Askren thinks Dana White’s comments on the issues in boxing make no sense while he refuses to make the biggest fight at heavyweight.

    One topic that has remained at the surface in 2024 is Jon Jones’ return from injury. His first title defense was originally set to come against Stipe Miocic at last November’s UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden.

    After injury forced “Bones” out, an interim champion was crowned in his absence. Tom Aspinall’s triumph over Sergei Pavlovich added a second titleholder to the division and appeared to set up a unification showdown with Jones.

    But both the Rochester native and the UFC have remained firm on rescheduling the Miocic matchup in spite of Aspinall’s gold, and that appears to still be the case following the Brit’s successful defense against Curtis Blaydes last month in Manchester.

    Plenty in the community have spoken out against plans for Jones and Miocic to meet toward the end of this year, citing the heavyweight legend’s inactivity to insist that a clash with Aspinall is more intriguing.

    And according to one former fighter, the promotion’s rejection of that goes directly against the UFC CEO’s frequent comments about what sets his organization apart from boxing’s politics…

    Askren On Jones vs. Aspinall Delay: ‘The Fact That Dana’s Playing Along…’

    During the latest episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren gave his latest take on the heavyweight title picture.

    “Funky,” a former Bellator and ONE Championship kingpin, pointed to the UFC’s claim of putting on the biggest and best fights in comparison to boxing, a sport that White has often criticized for its politics and failure to pair the top names against one another.

    By not staging Jones vs. Aspinall, however, Askren believes White and the UFC is abandoning that principle.

    “I almost feel like maybe Jon’s got some dirt on Dana or something,” Askren said. “Dana generally would not put up with this type of behavior. He would say — and this is what the UFC’s been founded on where boxing wasn’t — ‘we want the best guys to fight. We want to see who the actual best guy is. We don’t want to waste time with shenanigans. We don’t want to pad records…we don’t do that; that’s what boxing does. In the UFC, we put the best guys in there, we see who wins.’

    “The fact that Dana’s playing along and letting him and Stipe fight — Stipe’s gonna be close to four years (since his last fight). And you have this young interim champion — I mean, he’s a beast, he smashes people,” Askren continued. “The fact they won’t put them in there together — and then there’s this obvious (chance) that Jon beats Stipe and then says, ‘I’m done, I’m gone,’ and then we never get to see that. … Dana almost always presses these issues with the best guys.”

    After pausing his pursuit of Jones and focusing on retaining his belt and securing redemption against Blaydes on home soil, Aspinall turned his attention back to the all-time great following his quick triumph.

    And the interim champ has since vowed not to return unless undisputed status is on the line.

  • Dana White: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Have ‘Paid Their Dues’ But ‘Owe’ Tom Aspinall Title Unification Fight

    Dana White: Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Have ‘Paid Their Dues’ But ‘Owe’ Tom Aspinall Title Unification Fight

    Dana White has stuck to his guns regarding the expected upcoming heavyweight title fight between the champion Jon Jones and the returning Stipe Miocic.

    This match-up has been controversial ever since Jones was forced to push the fight back a year due to an injury – which then led to Tom Aspinall winning the interim title and defending it this past month.

    White has said that he expects the winner of that fight to then unify the division against Aspinall, stating after UFC 304 that it would be a great shame if both Jones and Miocic retire after their eventual clash, as many expect them both to do.

    He recently cleared the air once again on what he believes are the next steps for the heavyweight division now that Aspinall has defended his title whilst we await Jones’ return.

    Dana White Says That Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic Deserve To Fight One Another But Owe It To Aspinall Afterwards

    In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, White addressed the idea that some of the fans believe that Aspinall deserves to fight Jones next rather than Miocic.

    He believes that this decision comes down to the two men that were originally set to meet at UFC 295 last November because of what they’ve done in the sport.

    However, he also clarifies that in his opinion, the winner of the heavyweight title fight should then have to pay it forward by giving Aspinall the chance to fight for the undisputed title before riding off into the sunset.

    “He [Aspinall] looks like the future of the heavyweight division right but at the same time, he’s working his way up. He’s climbing up the ladder and everybody’s like, ‘He deserves this and he deserves that.’ He doesn’t deserve anything. He looks great and he looks like he’s going to be the guy. You’ve got Stipe and Jon who have paid their dues, they’ve been here forever, they fought everybody, they fought all the fights that you could possibly fight. These guys deserve to fight each other.

    “Whoever wins that fight, I think that they owe it to Aspinall to fight him and give him the opportunity that they’ve been given. When you look at Jon Jones and Stipe, they beat all the guys right? And you’re either gonna be the guy that’s gonna cement your legacy forever or you’re gonna hand the torch off the way that it was handed off to you guys by all the guys that came before you.”

    Read also: Conor McGregor Brands Donald Trump’s Pick For His Favorite UFC Fighter A ‘Campaign-Ending Decision’

  • ‘Bro Gave Out Belal’s Number’ – Fans React After Jon Jones Posts Phone Number To Canvass Support For Tom Aspinall Fight

    ‘Bro Gave Out Belal’s Number’ – Fans React After Jon Jones Posts Phone Number To Canvass Support For Tom Aspinall Fight

    Jon Jones was sure to have a close eye on the recent co-main event of UFC 304, which featured a man that he has spoken about a lot recently in Tom Aspinall.

    The Brit defended his interim title on home soil by stopping Curtis Blaydes in the opening minute of their rematch, before going on to call Jones out.

    He simply said that he has nothing personal towards “Bones” but believes he’s the better fighter and would like the opportunity to prove it before the heavyweight champion potentially retires, after his rescheduled title defense against Stipe Miocic.

    Jones gave a quick and to the point reaction to that fight but eventually, the constant call from fans to make the fight happen has led to a follow-up post from the consensus greatest of all time.

    MMA Fans React To Jon Jones’ Tom Aspinall Fight Hotline

    In a recent post on X, Jones appeared to share a phone number that links to Glenview, Illinois.

    The caption on the screenshot says that anyone that wants to see this heavyweight title unification happen should contact this number where Jones will be available over the coming days.

    He later urged that in the case the phone is switched off, people should still contact this number via text so he can get back to them – which is clearly some kind of joke that he’s playing on someone.

    Fans reacted to this slightly odd post from the heavyweight champion on social media and tried to guess whose number it actually is.

    “Dom Reyes watching his phone blow up”

    “Who tf did you just dox bro”

    “If this is Chael’s number, it would be the best prank ever”

    “Dc watching his phone blow up”

    “Ariel helwani’s number probably”

    “Bro gave out Belals number”

    Read also: Tom Aspinall Questions UFC’s ‘Unfair’ Decision Not To Renew Muhammad Mokaev’s Contract

  • Did Jon Jones Leak His Phone Number?

    Did Jon Jones Leak His Phone Number?

    Although he last fought in March 2023, Jon Jones is the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. He bagged the title in his heavyweight debut by effortlessly submitting Ciryl Gane – but is yet to defend it.

    Jones was scheduled to fight Stipe Miocic in November 2023 but the contest has been delayed by almost a year due to the kingpin’s shoulder injury. In the meantime, Tom Aspinall has won and defended the interim UFC heavyweight title against Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes, respectively.

    Jones is well aware that many fans want him to fight Aspinall instead of Miocic as the latter’s last fight was in March 2021. The former UFC light heavyweight champion responded to these demands in a rather unique way recently…

    Jon Jones Posts Phone Number On X For Fans Demanding Tom Aspinall Fight

    Jones shared a phone number on X on August 6, 2024, with the following caption:

    “If you want me to fight Tom call and text me, I’ll respond for the next few days.”

    This is naturally a sly dig toward fans who’ve been complaining about Jones vs. Miocic. However, many followers of the UFC heavyweight champion are curious whether he has leaked his real number or doxxed someone else.

    Is Jon Jones’ Leaked Phone Number Real?

    No, Jones’ phone number posted on X isn’t real. A big giveaway is the location above the number stating Glenview, IL, which is hundreds of miles away from New Mexico, the champ’s residence.

    In a follow-up tweet, “Bones” acknowledged fans who took the number as a joke. He also asked his followers to continue calling even if the number is turned off, again implying that it’s not his own.

    Despite the tension in MMA circles, Dana White has been adamant about Jones vs. Miocic in November 2024. The UFC President believes that the veterans deserve to fight each other after such illustrious careers.

  • Tom Aspinall Questions UFC’s ‘Unfair’ Decision Not To Renew Muhammad Mokaev’s Contract

    Tom Aspinall Questions UFC’s ‘Unfair’ Decision Not To Renew Muhammad Mokaev’s Contract

    Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall says “it’s a shame” that flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev was recently let go.

    Mokaev made the walk late last month at the UFC 304 pay-per-view with his sights set on securing a first shot at gold on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage. Instead, he departed the cage without a spot on the roster anymore.

    While the exact reason for the promotion not re-signing him remains undisclosed, UFC CEO Dana White insisted it had nothing to do with his fighting style, which came into question again following a lackluster decision win over Manel Kape in Manchester.

    With that, most have concluded that antics away from the cage were responsible for his release, and UFC 304 fight week certainly wasn’t short on them. “The Punisher” most notably admitted to sucker-punching his opponent at the fighter hotel.

    If that was among the major reasons for the UFC not re-signing Mokaev, another victor from the July 27 PPV doesn’t think his fellow Brit has been treated fairly…

    Aspinall On Mokaev’s UFC Exit: ‘It’s A Shame’

    During a recent interview with former boxing champion Carl Froch, Aspinall was asked for his take on the situation surrounding Mokaev, whom he’s known since the flyweight was a youngster.

    Like some in the MMA space, the interim heavyweight champ pointed to numerous big-name fighters who have had altercations and incidents outside the Octagon, suggesting it’s “unfair” for Mokaev to be punished while others got away scot-free.

    “Muhammad Mokaev’s a lad I’ve known since he was 12 years old. … Him and his opponent (Kape) had a lot of beef beforehand; they were scrapping in the hotel before…and I heard some stories about kicking each other’s hotel rooms when they’re trying to sleep,” Aspinall said. “The UFC kicked him out. They don’t wanna re-sign him because of what’s gone on.

    “I think it’s unfair. … This has happened before, all this beef in the hotel and at the weigh-ins, and all the rest of it,” Aspinall continued. “It’s not the first time, so I think it’s a bit unfair on him to kick him out indefinitely. But at the end of the day, I’m not the boss of the UFC, so it’s got nothing to do with me. … I think it’s a shame, but it’s not really my call.”

    According to others, however, there’s likely more to the story. One of Muhammad’s flyweight peers, ex-title challenger Steve Erceg, also recently suggested that disrespectful behavior toward UFC staff likely played a part in the promotion’s decision.

    The saga looks far from over, with Mokaev repeatedly pleading his case on social media and vowing to return to the Octagon. “The Punisher’s” most recent post regarding his status came while he attended this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.

  • UFC Interim Champ Tom Aspinall On Whether He Expects ‘Tricky, Slimy, & Snaky’ Jon Jones To Ever Fight Him

    UFC Interim Champ Tom Aspinall On Whether He Expects ‘Tricky, Slimy, & Snaky’ Jon Jones To Ever Fight Him

    Tom Aspinall recently admitted he is uncertain whether he will ever have the opportunity to face Jon Jones in the Octagon.

    Following his dazzling performance in front of his home crowd at UFC 304, where he knocked out Curtis Blaydes in just 60 seconds to secure his third consecutive knockout victory, the Brit continued to campaign for a title unification bout against the reigning UFC heavyweight champion. However, Jones has persistently rebuffed the challenge, going so far as to undermine Aspinall’s position as the interim champion.

    Aspinall is the current interim heavyweight titleholder, a title he claimed at UFC 295 in November 2023 after “Bones” was forced to pull out of his matchup with Stipe Miocic due to a torn pectoral muscle. Ideally, the 31-year-old Salford native would be gearing up for an undisputed championship bout later this year. Instead, he remains on the periphery, while Jones is expected to face Miocic in a fight targeted for November.

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Aspinall was asked about the possibility of ever facing “Bones.” The interim champ voiced his uncertainty and raised doubts about Jones’ intentions, questioning whether he will actually go through with the fight against Miocic.

    “I have no idea. I like to think he would, but we don’t know at this point if Jon Jones is even fighting Stipe. We have no idea,” Aspinall said. “Jon Jones is a bit of an unusual guy; you don’t see what you get with Jones, and you don’t get what you see. He’s tricky, slimy, and snaky—he does different movements. He says one thing and does another. So I don’t know. I have no idea, to be honest.”

    Aspinall Opens Up About Serving As Backup for A Possible Jones-Miocic Clash

    At the UFC 304 post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Aspinall will serve as the backup fighter in case either Jones or Miocic is unable to step into the Octagon.

    In the aforementioned interview, Aspinall expressed his eagerness to step in as the backup and asserted his confidence and readiness in his abilities to defeat both Jones and Miocic, even on a day’s notice.

    “Yep, I’ll be there. I’ll do that, and I’d fight those guys on an hour’s notice if they needed me to. Listen, mate, I can beat both of these guys, no problem. If I’ve got to do it on a day’s notice, I can do it easily, so I’ll be there to take my opportunity if it presents itself.”

    The possibility of a Jones vs. Aspinall showdown is captivating the MMA community, yet its realization appears remote. Jones remains resolute in his intention to face Miocic upon his return and has even suggested that he might retire after that fight.

  • Former UFC Champion Explains How Retiring After Stipe Miocic Fight Would Affect Jon Jones’ Legacy: ‘Ducking Tom Aspinall!’

    Former UFC Champion Explains How Retiring After Stipe Miocic Fight Would Affect Jon Jones’ Legacy: ‘Ducking Tom Aspinall!’

    Jon Jones is expected to face Stipe Miocic before the end of 2024, with Dana White recently stating that the winner will step into the Octagon against Tom Aspinall to unify the UFC heavyweight championship.

    Jones has been out of action since winning the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023. Although Aspinall has won and defended the interim title, “Bones” is still the official champion and holds a solid #3 ranking in the pound-for-pound list.

    “Bones” has repeatedly talked about considering retirement after the Miocic fight as well. One former UFC champ, however, thinks this move could be detrimental to his legacy…

    Michael Bisping Claims Jon Jones Would Lose Fans If He Retires Without Fighting Tom Aspinall

    Michael Bisping recently discussed the future of the UFC heavyweight division on his official YouTube channel. The winner of Jones vs. Miocic is expected to face Aspinall next, and early odds favor the interim champ.

    “The Count” claimed that despite his GOAT status as a light heavyweight, Jones’ inactivity at heavyweight makes him an underdog against Aspinall. But the former UFC middleweight kingpin also highlighted that his opponent’s lack of fighting experience could benefit Jones, who boasts a record 15 UFC title wins.

    “He hasn’t got the in-ring time, he hasn’t got the experience, the fight IQ of a Jon Jones.”

    Bisping’s other concern is regarding Jones’ will to fight after the Miocic fight. The decision is largely dependent on his performance, and in the eyes of “The Count,” retiring without unifying the heavyweight title wouldn’t sit well with a lot of fans.

    Jones vs. Aspinall has been a highly anticipated fight for over a year now. While the Brit has been respectfully waiting for the opportunity, many think that “Bones” is avoiding the Aspinall fight due to the higher risk of losing.

    Bisping believes such narratives will only get stronger if the UFC heavyweight champion retires after his next scheduled fight.

    “It would suck. Not only would it suck, but it would also be not the best move for Jon Jones in terms of fan appreciation. The narrative would always be that he was ducking Tom Aspinall.”

  • Daniel Cormier Advises Tom Aspinall On How To Boost Chances Of Jon Jones Fight After UFC 304

    Daniel Cormier Advises Tom Aspinall On How To Boost Chances Of Jon Jones Fight After UFC 304

    Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier thinks Tom Aspinall should switch strategy if he really wants to tempt Jon Jones into a fight.

    Aspinall’s case for the next shot at Jones grew ever stronger in the co-main event of this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view, which went down inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    Close to home, Aspinall put his interim heavyweight title on the line in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes, pursuing both a successful first defense and redemption for the injury-forced TKO setback he fell to opposite “Razor” in 2022.

    It took the Brit just one minute to achieve those goals, dropping Blaydes with a stiff jab before reigning down ground-and-pound for the first-round stoppage.

    As expected, Aspinall had Jones’ name on his lips post-fight, remaining respectful with his latest callout of the heavyweight titleholder. One of Jones’ former opponents, however, thinks he needs to abandon his nice nature…

    Cormier: Aspinall Must ‘Get Louder’ & ‘Rile Up’ Jones

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier gave his take on the events that unfolded at UFC 304 from cageside inside Manchester’s Co-op Live.

    “DC” touched on his Octagon interview with Aspinall following the co-headliner, claiming the Brit needs to change approach and begin ‘riling up’ Jones if he is to ensure a future dream showdown with the former two-time light heavyweight champ.

    “This guy seems to be the future and the present of the heavyweight division,” Cormier said. “You know, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are gonna fight each other, and deservedly so. … When they get to New York and they fight, Tom Aspinall needs to be in the building, if he’s smart.

    “I watched him finish, I watched the way the crowd reacted to him, and I watched his callout to Jon Jones. And in Tom Aspinall fashion, he was nice about it,” Cormier continued. “He needs to rile up Jones a little bit to get the people more invested. … I have seen the crowd get so behind a certain person that the organization will pivot. … Maybe they’ll pivot and make Aspinall vs. Jones right now. We don’t know…but Aspinall has to get a little bit louder.”

    Jones had a short and succinct response to Aspinall’s UFC 304 triumph and post-fight callout on social media. By all accounts, the Brit’s emphatic performance did little to convince “Bones” or the UFC to alter their plans for an expected November title fight.

  • MMA News Today: Video Shows Paddy Pimblett Reacting Backstage To ‘Most Boring Champion’ Belal Muhammad’s UFC 304 Crowning, Turki Alalshikh Says UFC’s Sphere Card ‘Will Eat’ Canelo Match On Sept. 14, & More

    MMA News Today: Video Shows Paddy Pimblett Reacting Backstage To ‘Most Boring Champion’ Belal Muhammad’s UFC 304 Crowning, Turki Alalshikh Says UFC’s Sphere Card ‘Will Eat’ Canelo Match On Sept. 14, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 30, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Pimblett scolds Muhammad after title win
    • Alalshikh gives strong prediction for UFC vs. Canelo
    • Sonnen points out that Aspinall is finishing big guys with ease

    Paddy Pimblett Posts Reaction To UFC 304 Main Event, Belal Muhammad Becoming Champion

    A video posted on Paddy Pimblett’s YouTube channel gives fight fans a behind the scenes look at his fight night experience this past weekend.

    “The Baddy” delivered one of the performances of the night at UFC 304 in Manchester when he submitted King Green in the first round to earn a lightweight ranking.

    The main event, however, did not end on such good terms for the UK fighters and fans as Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards to become the welterweight champion.

    In the video, Pimblett is seen reacting to the official decision before going on to label Muhammad as the “most boring champion ever.”

    Turki Alalshikh Not Worried About Saudi-Backed UFC 306 Going Up Against Canelo Álvarez

    It’s incredibly rare to see any major sporting events going up against the UFC, but that is exactly what Canelo Álvarez will look to do on September 14 with his fight against Edgar Berlanga.

    Alvarez has a track record for fighting on Mexican Independence Day, but he missed out on this last year after the UFC booked the T-Mobile Arena for the first Noche UFC card.

    The MMA leader will instead be hosting UFC 306 this year at the Sphere, which is being built up to be an event like no other.

    Part of the reason that both events are going head-to-head in Las Vegas is because UFC 306 is being sponsored by Riyadh Season and the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority, which has allowed the UFC to go big on this particular card, meaning Álvarez could run the T-Mobile on this occasion.

    Speaking to ESPN, Turki Alalshikh gave a short response to how he believes the Saudi-backed Sphere event will compete with Álvarez.

    “We will eat him,”

    Chael Sonnen Says Tom Aspinall Is Doing Something That Even Mike Tyson Struggled With

    Tom Aspinall’s incredible ability to end fights early on means that he has unbelievably low amounts of Octagon time despite being a world champion.

    The interim heavyweight champ has said it himself that he wants opponents to test him in deeper waters but nobody can take him there.

    Following his one-minute finish over Curtis Blaydes this past weekend, Chael Sonnen was full of praise for the Brit in a recent YouTube video.

    He compared Aspinall to arguably the greatest knockout artist combat sports has ever seen and said that he is even capable of finishing fights in ways that Mike Tyson couldn’t even accomplish.

    “Mike Tyson had a hard time putting down the heavyweights that were 240, 250, 260 [pounds]. These are the guys that Tom is touching one time; this is shocking power. Tom is getting guys out of here so quickly. I don’t love the reality that in three years, Tom has been in the ring for about three minutes, but the other side of it is, what are you going to do? How are you going to stop him?”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • UFC Rankings Report: Paddy Pimblett Arrives At Lightweight, Belal Muhammad Debuts On Pound-For-Pound List

    UFC Rankings Report: Paddy Pimblett Arrives At Lightweight, Belal Muhammad Debuts On Pound-For-Pound List

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC 304, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: In addition to reaching the mountaintop at 170 pounds, Belal Muhammad’s title-winning triumph over Leon Edwards this past weekend has seen him join the P4P rankings. The newly crowned welterweight champion has debuted at #6, with his defeated opponent dropping three spots to #7. Muhammad’s arrival has resulted in the removal of former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling.

    Also on a climb is the other man who left the Co-op Live with gold in his possession, Tom Aspinall. The interim heavyweight kingpin’s rapid knockout of Curtis Blaydes has seen him rise by two places to #9, jumping above Max Holloway (#10), Dricus Du Plessis (#11), and Alexandre Pantoja (#12).

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: No changes.

    Flyweight: After some controversial antics and a lackluster victory at UFC 304, Muhammad Mokaev evidently didn’t do enough to convince the promotion he was worth re-signing. As a result of his departure, “The Punisher” has been quickly removed from the 125-pound rankings. That’s paved the way for Cody Durden to return at #15.

    The man he beat at UFC 304, Manel Kape, has fallen by one position to #9, with both Steve Erceg (#7) and Matheus Nicolau (#8) receiving two-spot boosts to jump above “Starboy.”

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: Arnold Allen’s decision win over Giga Chikadze in the early hours of Sunday morning was enough to secure his return to the top five at 145 pounds. “Almighty” has moved up by one spot to share the #5 place with former opponent Movsar Evloev.

    Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett was among the biggest winners to emerge from UFC 304, putting King Green to sleep with a triangle choke to record his first success over ranked opposition. As expected, the result has pushed “The Baddy” into contention, with the Liverpool native replacing Green at #15.

    Welterweight: With Muhammad surging to the throne in Manchester, Edwards has slipped back to the #1 position as the leader in the chasing pack. That’s also left former champ Kamaru Usman one place worse off at #2.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: After falling short in his first UFC title shot, Blaydes has been relegated to #5 in the heavyweight pecking order, with Sergei Pavlovich replacing him at #4 a month on from his defeat to Alexander Volkov in Saudi Arabia.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Chael Sonnen: Tom Aspinall Knocking Out Big Heavyweights That Mike Tyson Had A ‘Hard Time’ With

    Chael Sonnen: Tom Aspinall Knocking Out Big Heavyweights That Mike Tyson Had A ‘Hard Time’ With

    Chael Sonnen recently lauded Tom Aspinall’s formidable punching power, boldly asserting that the Brit possesses the knockout ability to take down heavyweight boxers against whom even the legendary Mike Tyson struggled.

    Aspinall triumphantly retained his interim heavyweight title with a stunning 60-second knockout of his former foe, Curtis Blaydes, avenging his only loss in the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC 304 this past Saturday in Manchester.

    The 31-year-old Salford native delivered a powerful right hand that sent “Razor” crashing to the floor, then topped it off with a relentless barrage of punches to the head, prompting referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight.

    Since returning from injury in July 2023, Aspinall has been unstoppable, securing three first-round knockout victories. He has now won seven of his UFC fights by first-round stoppage, boasting an average fight time of just 2:02—the shortest in the promotion’s history.

    Sonnen Stunned by Aspinall’s Devastating Punching Power

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen weighed in on Aspinall’s victory over Blaydes at UFC 304. “The Bad Guy” noted that while it may not have been the Englishman’s finest performance in the Octagon, his incredible knockout power still managed to shift the momentum decisively in his favor.

    “I’m watching Tom, surprised by himself that it wasn’t a perfect fight by Tom,” Sonnen said. “Curtis was actually fundamentally doing some things a little bit better than Tom. And one thing about Tom is these boys he’s putting down, these are the big heavyweights, and I’m talking about size. I’m talking about actually getting on the scale and what they tip the scale at.”

    Sonnen went on to say that Aspinall’s punching power is so formidable that he could knock out big heavyweights – something even “Iron Mike” Tyson had trouble with.

    “Mike Tyson had a hard time putting down the heavyweights that were 240, 250, 260 [pounds]. These are the guys that Tom is touching one time; this is shocking power. Tom is getting guys out of here so quickly. I don’t love the reality that in three years, Tom has been in the ring for about three minutes, but the other side of it is, what are you going to do? How are you going to stop him?”

    After his win, Aspinall renewed his call for a unification bout with Jon Jones, who claimed the vacant UFC heavyweight title by defeating Ciryl Gane in March 2023 at UFC 285.

    “Bones” is expected to defend his title for the first time later this year against Stipe Miocic, a matchup that UFC CEO Dana White is adamant about making a reality.

  • Former UFC Champion Explains How Tom Aspinall’s Short Fight Time Could Be His ‘Worst Enemy’ Against Jon Jones

    Former UFC Champion Explains How Tom Aspinall’s Short Fight Time Could Be His ‘Worst Enemy’ Against Jon Jones

    Tom Aspinall came into UFC 304 this past weekend already holding the UFC record for the fastest average fight time for an athlete that has stepped foot in the Octagon several times.

    This streak doesn’t appear to be going anywhere despite his want and expectation for the rematch with Curtis Blaydes to go past the opening rounds.

    All it took was one clean shot from the interim heavyweight champion to send Blaydes off balance, where a barrage of follow-up strikes closed the show in just one minute.

    In nine total appearances since signing with the UFC, Aspinall is still yet to clock in a full 15-minute bout duration – even with all of his fights combined.

    He got this one done even quicker than his average fight time of less than two minutes but a former champion questioned whether this will come back to bite him at a later stage.

    Henry Cejudo Says Tom Aspinall’s Lack Of Cage Time Could Hurt Him Against Jon Jones

    Even before this fight, despite Blaydes being a very tough opponent for Aspinall, the fight that many want to see the Brit in is the title unification clash with Jon Jones.

    This is even more so the case after he avenged his one defeat in the UFC, which was caused by an injury, and made it look relatively simple.

    During the UFC 304 recap episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Henry Cejudo made the case for why this incredibly small amount of fight time could be a disadvantage for Aspinall if he were to fight Jones.

    We’re still yet to see so many elements of his game which an experienced foe like Jones is surely going to want to try and test, if they do ever meet.

    “Last four fights bro! 3 minutes and 37 seconds, Jesus Christ. But, that can also be his worst enemy too because you know a guy like Jones, a guy like Jones is smart bro. A guy like Jones, we cannot doubt the dude. The dude could wrestle and the dude will probably make this dude fight that beast side. But I will say this man, Tom Aspinall’s agility and the fact he’s a counter puncher, like he really did counter that jab very well with that overhand bro. like his IQ on his feet is good but we also have to see him in those other areas.”

    Read also: Kamaru Usman Reacts To Belal Muhammad Dominating Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘Leon Doesn’t Necessarily Know How To Fight There…’

  • Kamaru Usman Quashes Notion Of Early Stoppage In Tom Aspinall’s Win Over Curtis Blaydes: ‘The Best Heavyweight’

    Kamaru Usman Quashes Notion Of Early Stoppage In Tom Aspinall’s Win Over Curtis Blaydes: ‘The Best Heavyweight’

    Tom Aspinall continued his track record of finishing fights early on, in the co-main event of UFC 304 this past weekend.

    His interim title defense against Curtis Blaydes came to an end in just one minute of the very first round, when he dropped his opponent and landed some follow-up strikes on the floor to get the win.

    The speed and timing of Aspinall was on full display once again, despite taking a punch or two from Blaydes in that opening minute.

    By his own admission, the Brit was still taking some time to work out his opponent’s range and timing after being hit when he thought Blaydes would would miss.

    What makes him so dangerous is that this didn’t even matter in the grand scheme of things as once a shot of his own landed clean, he was able to get the finish.

    Kamaru Usman Says He Had No Issues With Blaydes Stoppage, Calls Aspinall The Best Heavyweight

    Given that it was the jab from Aspinall that tipped Blaydes off balance, some questioned whether it was an early stoppage because nothing appeared to really hurt the challenger.

    Kamaru Usman doesn’t believe this was a factor as he stated during the UFC 304 review episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast.

    Usman said that similar to Aspinall’s own view of the finish, Blaydes had nowhere to go and was only going to take more damage if the referee didn’t step in.

    “Everyone is speculating, ‘Oh, was it an early stoppage.’ At first, I would think so but this is the thing with big boys though. Yes, the jab didn’t completely [drop him]…like it was just kind of momentum. He’s coming in, he ate the jab, okay he sat him down. But when he sat him down, Curtis was still there, Curtis saw him coming, Curtis tried to get back up but those are big boys.

    “He fell on Curtis, he jumped on Curtis and when you jumped on him I mean those boys don’t move as fast and then he starts wailing off and there was moments to where Curtis was there trying to get up, a shot lands on the side of the head, he goes back down, he tries to get up so it was just kind of this grey area. I don’t think it was an early stoppage I just think Curtis was kind of caught off guard and was unable to recover quickly enough before Tom Aspinall was able to pounce on him and completely finish the fight.”

    Usman was also very high in his praise for the interim champion, labelling him as the best in his weight class despite the presence of Jon Jones.

    “I just think it was a tremendous fight. I think the speed of Tom Aspinall sets him apart from every heavyweight now. His speed, his awareness, his fearlessness to go in there and know that, ‘Hey, my shots are going to get there before yours.’ I think you have to put him in there, you have to say that Tom Aspinall right now is the best heavyweight.”

    Read also: Kamaru Usman Reacts To Belal Muhammad Dominating Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘Leon Doesn’t Necessarily Know How To Fight There…’

  • Curtis Blaydes Releases First Statement On 60-Second UFC 304 Loss To Tom Aspinall: ‘Got Greedy When I Touched Him Early’

    Curtis Blaydes Releases First Statement On 60-Second UFC 304 Loss To Tom Aspinall: ‘Got Greedy When I Touched Him Early’

    UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes is understandably frustrated to have had his first shot at gold come to a crashing end in quick time.

    Blaydes was back across the pond this past weekend to share the Octagon with Tom Aspinall in England for the second time. “Razor” previously had his hand raised in 2022 after a knee injury to the Brit after just 15 seconds.

    The American targeted a more definitive victory this time around, as well as the capturing of Aspinall’s interim UFC heavyweight championship. But Blaydes was unable to succeed in that goal at the UFC 304 pay-per-view in Manchester.

    In the early hours of Sunday in the UK, Blaydes became the latest victim on Aspinall’s run of rapid finishes, being dropped by a stiff jab and finished with an onslaught of ground-and-pound on the one-minute mark of the very first round.

    Having worked so hard to earn his first opportunity at winning gold on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, Blaydes bemoaned his failure to make the most of it.

    Blaydes On UFC 304 Loss: ‘I Threw Out The Amazing Gameplan…That Would’ve Worked

    Following his setback in the UFC 304 co-main event, Blaydes released his first public statement on his Instagram Stories.

    “Razor” maintained that the strategy devised by his team would have worked and ensured his crowning as interim champ but admitted to deviating from it after catching Aspinall on the feet early.

    “Sorry guys, I got greedy when I touched him early and threw out the amazing gameplan that my coaches Vinnie Lopez (and) Cody Donovan came up with that would’ve worked I’m sure of it. No excuses Tom was on point tonight I know this isn’t the end of my journey but damnit, I know I’m better than tonight’s performance. I appreciate all the support truly it’s been an eye opening experience to have so many ppl rocking with me,” Blaydes wrote.

    Curtis Blaydes
    Image: @razorblaydes265/Instagram

    Having insisted that he is far from done, Blaydes will soon turn his attention to the pursuit of a second chance at reaching the heavyweight mountaintop.

    Aspinall, meanwhile, has ensured that his reign as interim champ goes on and continues to call for a unification showdown with champion Jon Jones.

    While Dana White stated that the Brit will face the winner of Jones’ expected title clash with Stipe Miocic later this year, backlash to that matchup from the community has only grown after Aspinall’s emphatic performance at UFC 304.

  • Jon Jones Gives First Reaction To Tom Aspinall’s 60-Second Knockout At UFC 304, Post-Fight Callout

    Jon Jones Gives First Reaction To Tom Aspinall’s 60-Second Knockout At UFC 304, Post-Fight Callout

    UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones didn’t have much to say after his interim counterpart emerged victorious in Manchester this past weekend.

    With the calls of him and many in the fanbase for a unification showdown with Jones falling on deaf ears, Tom Aspinall returned in the co-main event of UFC 304 to defend his interim title.

    In front of his home fans, the Brit ran it back with Curtis Blaydes, seeking redemption for the setback he fell to after his knee gave way just 15 seconds into their first fight two years ago.

    It didn’t take long for Aspinall to succeed in that goal, dropping “Razor” and pummeling him with ground-and-pound for the TKO stoppage in just 60 seconds at the Co-op Live.

    The dominant nature of his first interim title defense has only increased calls for the UFC and Jones to abandon plans for a Stipe Miocic fight upon his return from injury.

    Jones On UFC 304 Co-Main Event: ‘I Love It…’

    A day on from Aspinall’s latest quick night at the office inside the Octagon, Jones took to social media to give his first reaction to the performance and the Englishman’s post-fight callout.

    “Supply and demand at its finest, I love it,” Jones wrote.

    Pre-fight, Jones had been vocal in dismissing Aspinall’s confidence. The former two-time light heavyweight kingpin suggested that Blaydes was getting the better of the early exchanges in 2022 and could take the Brit down en route to a ground-and-pound stoppage at UFC 304.

    “Bones” didn’t directly address Aspinall proving that prediction wrong in emphatic fashion.

    Judging by his reaction and Dana White’s words at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference, the plan remains for Jones to face Miocic for the title in November. Miocic hasn’t competed since a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in 2021.