Fresh off an electrifying knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich, Tom Aspinall solidified his claim to the interim heavyweight title. This win marks another pinnacle in Aspinall's ascent within the UFC ranks, following his commanding performance against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
Aspinall sits atop the heavyweight division with no intentions of slowing down, but his sights are firmly set on a seemingly reluctant target: Jon Jones. The long-pending bout between Jones and Stipe Miocic, originally set for UFC 295 on November 11, 2023, was postponed after Jones sustained an injury, and Miocic was subsequently removed from the card. The fight is now rumored to be rescheduled for UFC 309 on November 16.
Tensions and Taunts: Aspinall on Jones
Aspinall hasn't been shy about voicing his opinions on Jones, openly criticizing both his inactivity and lifestyle. "Let's be honest," he said, "and since I won that fight, he's gone completely quiet. He'll continue to go completely quiet about me until he retires. Because there's no way on Earth that he's going to fight me. Not a chance. I will retire Jon Jones without even fighting him."
Jones, who at 37 years old is looking to end his career on a high note, might be more focused on cementing his legacy than chasing emerging challengers. "I'm 37 years old now, I've kicked everyone's ass. My job is to finish strong and make an amazing movie. Go join Tom Brady, Floyd Mayweather and all the other retired bad asses," Jones stated. This sentiment was echoed in another of his remarks: "Maybe Tom will go on and beat Stipe's record one day, right now I'm focusing on goat things. The beautiful thing about being in my position is I'm not defined by one fight. Most of you grew up watching me win."
War of Words
Despite Jones' achievements, Aspinall remains unimpressed. He questions Jones' willingness to fight him and suggests that both Jones and Miocic are past their prime. "I challenge anybody watching this interview to go and find the statement, quote, a video where Jon Jones is saying that he'll fight me after he's fought Stipe. It doesn't exist," Aspinall asserted.
The 30-year-old British fighter has been outspoken about his place in the hierarchy of the heavyweight division. "They don't f---ing deserve to be fighting for the heavyweight title. Them guys are not the top of the heavyweight division right now. Dana White and everybody else can say whatever they want, them guys aren't the best heavyweights in the world right now."
The Next Chapter: Aspinall’s Ambitions
Aspinall believes he is the rightful face of the heavyweight division and wants to be recognized as such. "I'm the guy at heavyweight, not him—me. I want to be recognized as the best. I've got the real belt. I'm the one defending. He's defending against a 42-year-old Stipe Miocic with a million miles on the clock. If you want to be the real guy, you have to fight me."
As the UFC universe eagerly awaits the rescheduled bout between Jones and Miocic, the larger narrative centers on the potential clash between Jones and Aspinall. The possibility of Jones defending his title against an increasingly vocal and confident Aspinall could represent a seismic shift within the heavyweight division.
Unquestionably, UFC fans are on tenterhooks, waiting to see how these rivalries unfold. Whether Jon Jones’ storied career will face a disruptive challenge from Tom Aspinall remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the war of words has already set the stage for a heavyweight showdown of historic proportions.