UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is not happy with UFC brass wanting him to sit out and wait for the winner of the targeted Jon Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1, 1 NC UFC) vs. Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) fight that is expected to take place Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City as the UFC 309 headliner.
Aspinall, fresh off a first-round KO victory in the co-main event of UFC 304 against Curtis Blaydes, said he is looking for answers as to why he is not considered the rightful No. 1 contender to fight Jones.
Tom Aspinall went OFF on Jon Jones here in the most Tom Aspinall way 📠 😮💨
pic.twitter.com/kPI0szWLTg— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) August 20, 2024
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“It is pissing me off; I don’t like to f****** complain,” Aspinall told the Believe You Me Podcast. “Cause everyone’s like, ‘Oh, you’re crying about this.’ There are six guys in the top 10 who I have finished in the first round. Just let that sink in. Six guys in the top 10 who I have finished in the first round. I just beat the No. 1 contender, who is Ciryl Gane. And the No. 1 contender before him, it was Sergei Pavlovich, in a combined time of 2:07. Two fights. So, it’s like, f******* Jon’s not doing that. He beat one guy, Ciryl Gane, who didn’t want to be there [in the Octagon] two years ago. Dana is walking around calling himself [Jon Jones] the real champion. Granted, he’s had an amazing career. He’s been a real champion most of his career. Not at heavyweight. I’m the guy at heavyweight. Not him. Me. So, I want to be recognized as the best. I’ve got the real belt.”
The UFC doesn’t see it that way, however. Jones, who last competed 17 months ago and has since nursed a pectoral injury suffered in camp weeks before UFC 295, has remained the champion. This goes against the UFC’s standard of inactivity in stripping champions.
Instead of Aspinall getting a title shot, CEO Dana White has been adamant that Jones and Miocic have to fight, simply because of legacy and prestige, not because of rankings or activity.
It is unclear whether or not Jones-Aspinall will ever occur, but in the eyes of the fans, it’s a must-see attraction.
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Do you believe Jones should fight Miocic next, or wait for Aspinall?
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