Tom Aspinall made it clear throughout his lengthy layoff that his purpose was all the time turning into undisputed UFC heavyweight champion whether or not or not that led him to a combat in opposition to Jon Jones.
Following Jones’ retirement — that apparently lasted all of two weeks — Aspinall traveled to Las Vegas the place he spoke to UFC officers about what comes subsequent for him. He admits trying down the roster on the record of potential opponents that Jones was clearly the largest and most essential combat accessible to him however he expects issues within the division to start out shaking up once more along with his plans to stay a really energetic champion.
“The heavyweight division’s not precisely on fireplace in the intervening time,” Aspinall told Adam Catterall after returning dwelling to England. “From a reputation viewpoint. I believe the expertise’s there. However if you happen to look 5 plus years in the past, simply the title worth within the prime 15 was unbelievable. We’re speaking guys like Fabricio Werdum, Cain Velasquez, [Junior dos Santos], Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar, and so forth, and so forth. Stipe [Miocic], the record goes on and on. You look by means of the highest 15 and it’s like wow, that’s unbelievable. The place as now, even me who’s a heavyweight, I look by means of the highest 15 and I’m like I’ve probably not seen [these guys] combat earlier than.
“I believe over the following few years that’s going to alter. I believe there’s going to be extra large fights at heavyweight. Persons are going to develop into larger names, which is nice. We simply want extra up and coming heavyweights doing a bit within the prime 15.”
The excellent news is Aspinall expects that he’ll return to motion prior to later now that the UFC has provided him a combat that he already accepted.
“I now have a combat, which is able to get introduced, sadly that’s not my job,” Aspinall revealed. “However no less than we’ve received a date, we’ve received an opponent to work in the direction of. The whole lot’s good. Very proud of that. I can lastly get my profession going once more.”
Given the UFC calendar for the remainder of 2025, Aspinall is probably going a return to motion in October, November or December relying on the place the promotion slots him in. The October pay-per-view is ready for Abu Dhabi with the UFC anticipated to journey to New York for an occasion at Madison Sq. Backyard in November.
The ultimate large present occurs in December with all indicators pointing in the direction of a homecoming in Las Vegas because the UFC closes out the yr.
Aspinall didn’t point out any dates, places or opponents, though he did deal with a few potential matchups with former interim champion Ciryl Gane doubtless sitting on the prime of the record.
“We’ve been purported to combat one another a few occasions earlier than,” Aspinall mentioned about combating Gane. “He’s just a little bit older and no less than he began his profession within the UFC just a little bit sooner than I did. So after I was in, it was all the time like I used to be attempting to combat him as a result of he was just a bit bit above me on a regular basis.
“Combat by no means materialized. He turned me down a few occasions, to be sincere. I don’t suppose he needed to combat down the rankings. I don’t know. I get it. I’m a foul combat for everyone. It’s a dangerous combat for everyone. So I perceive why you wouldn’t wish to combat down the rankings as effectively however I’m certain that combat’s going to occur eventually.”
Aspinall additionally addressed Jailton Almeida, who has been quite vocal in calling for a heavyweight title shot.
“I prefer it,” Aspinall mentioned concerning the Brazilian. “I believe he’s good. Took a loss to [Curtis] Blaydes however he appears to be like good. There’s not a variety of good heavyweights round. He appears to be like respectable.”
One other potential title for the longer term is Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov, who Aspinall defeated by way of armbar submission again in 2022. Since then, Volkov has gone 4-1 along with his solely loss coming in a detailed, considerably controversial break up determination to Gane this previous December.
Whereas it doesn’t sound like Aspinall is speeding in the direction of any rematches proper now, he undoubtedly sees Volkov as a future opponent sooner or later.
“I really thought [Volkov] received the Gane combat as effectively. To be sincere,” Aspinall mentioned. “Simply however I believe he received it. To be sincere, I knew how good Volkov was after I combat him. He’s actually good. He’s actually, actually good. I believe he has improved since then. I believe we in all probability will rematch sooner or later. I might think about so. I wasn’t superb then compared to what I’m like now.
“So if we do rematch, that may be fascinating. Don’t get me fallacious, there’s by no means any two fights which might be the identical however I believe if you happen to evaluate now to evaluating me to a few or 4 years in the past, at any time when that combat was, you’ve received to do not forget that was my first fundamental occasion as effectively. That was my first time combating in entrance of a crowd as effectively. That was after the pandemic. Method, means totally different now than it was then. I believe that combat will occur once more, I might think about. I believe Volkov’s going to maintain profitable. I believe that combat will occur sooner or later for certain.”
Irrespective of the opponent, Aspinall is simply excited to get again to work after a irritating yr off however he undoubtedly sees new challenges awaiting him now that he’s the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.
“There’s a number of guys I’ve not fought,” Aspinall mentioned. “I received’t point out any names as a result of they’ll simply lower it up and publish it however the guys that I’ve not fought know who they’re and so they’re the fellows that I wish to combat.”
