The ongoing saga of UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall waiting for a fateful unification bout with undisputed title holder Jon Jones continues, and it seems the Brit is willingly to move past him.
Disgruntled Tom Aspinall Ready to Move On from Possible Jones Fight Amid Absence of Formal Announcement
At UFC 304, Tom Aspinall became one of the few interim champions in UFC history to defend their belts, scoring an impressive first round knockout over the last man to defeat him, Curtis Blaydes. In his post-fight interview, the Englishman respectfully called out the official best heavyweight in the world, Jones, hoping to possibly secure a superfight later in the year.
However, the promotion instead went ahead and booked “Bones” in a legacy fight with former 265-lb king Stipe Miocic for UFC 309, where Jones stopped the Ohio native by third round knockout. UFC CEO Dana White did state in the post-fight press conference of UFC on ESPN 63 that Aspinall would eventually battle Jones sometime in 2025.
In the months following the bout’s conclusion, the Brit has repeatedly tried to set up a date between him and the arguably greatest competitor of all time, but Jones has continued to remain silent, and there still hasn’t been any word from the UFC at this time. This lack of action while being on the sidelines has caused Tom Aspinall much annoyance, so much so that he has stated that he is now willing to ditch a contest with Jones in order to pursue other fights as the actual heavyweight champion.
Tom Aspinall Airs Frustration on YouTube
Posting to his YouTube channel, Aspinall relayed to MMA fans the current status of the Jones booking, implying that he, his team and the UFC are all on board for the clash and that they are just waiting for the champion to respond.
“Where we’re at right now, is I have spoken to the UFC on multiple occasions about this fight,” Tom Aspinall began. “I’m chasing up, and I want the fight. Been on record saying I want the fight, been on the phone with the UFC saying I want the fight. ‘When’s the fight? I want it more than anyone’. What’s holding it up is his side, that’s the truth of it.”
Aspinall’s Comments Continued
“Does he want to put himself in a position where he’s comfortable enough financially to take the risk that he’s taking to fight me? And that’s where we’re at,” he said. “The UFC tells me, they’ve shown me, that they’re doing everything they can to make this fight. So it’s totally, as far as I’m aware, it’s totally down to Jon Jones and his team to work it out.”
Should “Bones” choose not to defend his strap against Aspinall, and either he willingly vacates or the company strips him, then the English bruiser is all for taking on someone else for the undisputed belt.
“Remember what I said quite a while ago now? I will retire Jon Jones without even fighting him, that’s what I said,” he said. “Jon, let’s do it! If you want to do it, you don’t have to ask me twice. If not, I’ll fight somebody else for the undisputed belt. Happy to fight anybody. Anyone, anytime, anywhere. Doesn’t matter, I’m ready to go.”
Will Tom Aspinall Get His Wish?
Having held the interim championship for well over a year now, Tom Aspinall has been denied his rightful fight versus Jones time and time again. The situation has frustrated not just the Brit but also the entire MMA community, as the most electrifying fighter in the division is left to wait while his prime years are being wasted.
As the spring season rolls around and more big bouts are announced, there is the chance that the UFC finally reveals the high-profile clash Aspinall has been longing for. Until then, the world can only bide its time as the biggest pairing in combat sports slowly comes together in the shadows.