Aspinall's Rise in the Heavyweight Division
In a display of sheer dominance, Tom Aspinall has solidified his place in the upper echelons of the UFC's heavyweight division. His recent knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich earned him the interim title and served as a statement to the entire MMA community. Aspinall’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric, particularly highlighted by his commanding performance against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
The heavyweight landscape seemed poised for a monumental clash between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, originally set for UFC 295 on November 11, 2023. However, this highly anticipated bout was put on hold due to Jones' withdrawal following an injury. Miocic was subsequently pulled from the card as well, much to the dismay of UFC fans who had been eagerly awaiting this clash of titans. While rumors swirl about the possibility of rescheduling the fight for UFC 309 on November 16, there has been no official confirmation yet.
A War of Words
Amidst this backdrop, Aspinall has not shied away from voicing his opinions, particularly about Jones. "Let's be honest, and since I won that fight, he's gone completely quiet," Aspinall remarked. "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."
Aspinall has been unrelenting in his critique of Jones' inactivity and lifestyle choices. "The guy's smart, and we know the guy's a bit overweight these days. The guy sat there with the Cheeto fingers or whatever, Doritos on his fingers with his iPhone in hand waiting for me to get knocked out [by Blaydes] so he could start tweeting about it," he quipped.
Furthermore, Aspinall remains skeptical about any future matchup between himself and Jones. "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," he asserted.
Jones' Perspective
On the other hand, Jon Jones is focusing on his legacy. At 37 years old, Jones has openly expressed his desire to end his career on a high note. "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," he declared.
Jones remains confident in his lasting impact on the sport, despite Aspinall's criticisms. "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."
Aspinall's Claim to the Throne
However, Aspinall is adamant that the current heavyweight division has moved beyond Jones and Miocic. "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," he stated emphatically.
His self-assurance is palpable. "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 situation develops, UFC fans around the world remain on tenterhooks, eagerly anticipating updates on the Jones vs. Miocic bout, while keeping a watchful eye on Aspinall's rise. Whether a clash between Aspinall and Jones materializes remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the heavyweight division is more thrilling than it has been in years.