When Jon Jones retired — albeit very briefly — Tom Aspinall was lastly promoted to undisputed heavyweight champion together with his first title protection booked in opposition to Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.
Whereas removed from the magnitude of the potential Jones’ combat, Aspinall has an opportunity to actually cement his standing as champion and assist the division transfer ahead with a brand new king on the throne. However after all of the hype and expectation constructed round Aspinall for the higher a part of the previous two years, what occurs if he really loses to Gane?
UFC legend Matt Brown argues that will be absolutely the worst-case state of affairs for a division already dangling by a thread.
“The heavyweight division is on the road,” Brown stated on the most recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “If Gane goes in and beats him — no disrespect to Gane, love the man — the heavyweight division loses a number of respect. Even when Tom goes on the market, and it’s an in depth combat or he will get dropped after which has to come back again or one thing like that, the heavyweight division has so little respect proper now, in all probability deservedly so I feel even with Gane getting his third title shot in a few years, Tom has to indicate he’s the heavyweight division.
“He has to show that to the world. The heavyweight division’s not simply shit, however I’m so good that the heavyweight division is shit. That is the factor he has to go on the market and show to the world. If he goes on the market and loses to Gane, the division already will not be revered, that brings Tom down considerably I feel.”
It’s robust to disagree with Brown’s logic based mostly on the present state of the heavyweight division the place Aspinall has already dispatched three of the highest 5 contenders ranked by the UFC with an opportunity so as to add Gane to his checklist in October.
Exterior of the highest 5, there are not any true rising stars at heavyweight with Waldo Cortes-Acosta arguably driving essentially the most momentum off 5 straight wins, however even he hasn’t obtained that a lot consideration, particularly with choices in three of these 5 victories.
Aspinall is way and away the perfect heavyweight within the UFC proper now however dropping to Gane would dramatically shift the narrative relating to how the division is perceived.
Add to that, Aspinall falling would successfully nix any likelihood he ever had at going through Jones, who has vowed to return to motion and compete on the UFC White Home card anticipated in July 2026. That’s why Brown believes Aspinall can’t simply beat Gane — he has to demolish him.
“How he beats Gane, assuming he does, performs an element, too,” Brown defined. “If it seems to be an in depth combat, once more Jon’s going to be on his cellphone with Twitter open watching this combat, simply ready for Tom to f*ck up and get dropped and get leg kicked and limping a bit of bit. Jon can’t look forward to that second.”
Throughout his temporary time at heavyweight, Jones grew to become champion after he dispatched Gane in simply two minutes and 4 seconds into the opening spherical after snatching a guillotine choke submission. There’s virtually no likelihood that doesn’t get introduced as much as Aspinall persistently within the days and weeks main as much as the combat as a result of his win is sort of actually going to be measured in opposition to what Jones did to the identical opponent.
Maybe that’s an unfair comparability however Brown is aware of all too effectively how the game works and that simply provides one other layer to the stress falling on Aspinall’s shoulders forward of his subsequent combat.
“That is the state of affairs Jon was craving the entire time,” Brown stated. “He beats [Gane] in two and a half minutes, and he’s like mud off his shoulders, all proper guys, I’m out for a minute. What are you able to do Tom?
“It’s exhausting to beat a man in two and a half minutes. An expert fighter, that’s not straightforward to do. If Jon fought him 10 instances, he in all probability wouldn’t beat him that quick 10 instances. That was one in these 10 instances he beat him that quick. However now he did it, and he can say he did it. If Tom doesn’t match [that], you suck Tom, You simply fought anyone worse!”
Even when Jones isn’t the final word prize in all this, Brown can’t assist however marvel how a lot curiosity stays within the division if Aspinall loses and Gane turns into champion.
That opens the door to different potential contenders, however there’s additionally a world the place Aspinall would simply get an instantaneous rematch. Sadly by then, the virtually invincible aura constructed round Aspinall can be damaged and there simply wouldn’t be as a lot curiosity in one other combat with Gane.
“If Tom loses, his solely choice is a rematch,” Brown stated. “How many individuals are going to care about that? What sort of a requirement is there going to be for that?”
