Tom Aspinall isn’t trying over his shoulder for Jon Jones.
The brand new undisputed UFC heavyweight champion—a title he was promoted to following Jones’ retirement—awaits his subsequent protection with Jones not within the image. Aspinall was beforehand acknowledged as interim champion and efficiently defended that belt as soon as with the expectation {that a} bout with Jones would materialize, however “Bones” by no means agreed to satisfy Aspinall in a unification bout.
That’s tremendous with Aspinall, who has all the time prioritized being acknowledged as MMA’s No. 1 heavyweight over any perceived vendetta between he and Jones. That mentioned, if Jones decides to come back again sooner or later, Aspinall is effectively conscious he’ll doubtless be granted a direct title shot.
“I’m positive with the place he’s at he can leap the queue anytime he needs,” Aspinall advised The Diary Of A CEO. “This time of yr, down the road, we’ll have one other three or 4 contenders knocking on for a title shot, I’m positive, however anytime somebody like him needs to step up and say, ‘Pay attention, I wish to struggle once more,’ they’re going to get a direct title shot so I’m by no means going to depend that out.
“I’m in a spot in my profession the place there’s not all that a lot footage on the market on me. Perhaps he sees one thing on me within the subsequent few fights and he thinks, ‘ what? I can beat this man. I’m going to come back again and beat him.’ So mentally, I’m by no means counting that out. I believe the struggle might all the time pop again up and are available again round on me, in order that’s one thing that I might clearly settle for.”
Jones claimed the undisputed heavyweight championship in 2023 when he defeated Ciryl Gane for a title left vacant by a departing Francis Ngannou. He went on to efficiently defend it towards Stipe Miocic in a bout that was delayed a yr by a Jones harm. Although Jones had success at heavyweight, it’s his run at gentle heavyweight that has primarily outlined his legacy.
At 23, Jones grew to become the youngest champion in UFC historical past when he defeated Mauricio Rua at UFC 128. He went on to win his subsequent 13 gentle heavyweight title fights, solely dropping the belt attributable to self-inflicted authorized points outdoors of the cage (a title struggle win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 was additionally overturned when Jones examined optimistic for performance-enhancing substances). In 30 professional bouts, Jones has by no means really been defeated, along with his lone loss coming by means of disqualification for unlawful downward elbows in a bout towards Matt Hamill that Jones was dominating.
Requested if he has a message for Jones, Aspinall remained humble.
“I believe he’s had a tremendous profession and I believe he ought to take pleasure in the remainder of his life,” Aspinall mentioned. “If he really appears like he’s accomplished sufficient, which he retains saying that he does, he will likely be at peace. He doesn’t want me or anyone else to inform him how good he’s accomplished. He’ll realize it himself, so I hope that he’s having fun with his life, he’s having fun with his household, and he’s celebrating his profession as a result of it’s been superb.”
With Jones within the rear-view mirror, Aspinall appears to be like forward to his first struggle as undisputed heavyweight champion. There isn’t a clear-cut contender followers are demanding to see get a shot, however Aspinall has just a few names in thoughts.
“I’ve really fought a whole lot of the highest 10,” Aspinall mentioned. “One of many guys I’ve not fought is Ciryl Gane. I used to be really chasing that struggle just a few occasions earlier than. He was ducking and diving round himself a bit of bit, so he’s due a bit of little bit of a beating off me. I sit up for that.
“A pair extra guys down the rankings, Jailton Almeida I’ve not fought, there’s a man I’ve already beat referred to as Alexander Volkov who’s doing very well for himself as effectively, so who is aware of? You by no means know within the heavyweight division. There’s a few up-and-coming guys who I’ve not talked about as effectively, so there’s some good fights to be revamped the following couple of years for positive.”
Aspinall spent a lot of the previous two years pursuing a unification bout with Jones, however was denied as Jones was sidelined with an harm and decided to face Miocic in his first title protection. That left Aspinall to defend an interim belt towards Curtis Blaydes, however even after each fighters cleared their schedules, Jones declined to e-book a struggle with the British star.
Meaning Aspinall is making up for misplaced time, which he hopes to do in 2025 with a pair of championship fights.
“I’m going to be combating hopefully twice this yr,” Aspinall mentioned. “That’s my plan, no less than. I believe I’ve wasted sufficient time now. We’re trying to get a struggle booked fast and it’s trying prefer it’s going to be fairly quickly anyway. Then hopefully if every little thing goes effectively within the first one, I’m unhurt, which is it’s simpler mentioned than accomplished getting by way of a struggle with a man my measurement and popping out with no accidents, but when I can do this, I want to struggle on the finish of the yr as effectively. That may be excellent.”
