Tom Aspinall is finished attempting to goad Jon Jones right into a combat.
Aspinall, who presently sits because the UFC’s interim heavyweight world champion, has been in limbo ever since his 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich in November to seize the non permanent title.
Historically, the interim champ would transfer on to fulfill the undisputed titleholder — that being Jon Jones — as soon as cleared for a return. Sadly, for Aspinall, that does not appear to be the case.
‘Bones’ has remained insistent that he’ll settle some business with consensus heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic earlier than even humoring a possible conflict with Aspinall. Consequently, the Salford, England native is on the lookout for a combat elsewhere.
Answering questions on his YouTube channel, Tom Aspinall was requested about the opportunity of competing in July when the promotion returns to Manchester. He might neither affirm nor deny rumors of his return, however famous that conversations are happening and shifting “in the appropriate path.”
“I can’t affirm or deny as a result of I will probably be getting advised off if I do both, however I’m listening to robust rumors and I’m in talks proper now with the UFC about what’s going to occur, what’s going to be the subsequent step, stuff like that,” Aspinall stated. “Nothing that I can announce but, nothing set in stone but, however we’re shifting in the appropriate path with all of it.”
As for who Aspinall would face, Curtis Blaydes seems to be the clear-cut favourite. In any case, ‘Razor’ is the one man to personal a victory over Aspinall contained in the Octagon — although that was the results of an injury Aspinall suffered 15 seconds into their UFC Combat Night time headliner in July 2022. Nonetheless, Aspinall would love the possibility to get that one again and rectify the one blemish on his UFC document.
“I’d wish to combat Curtis Blaydes as a result of once I fought him I acquired injured and that signifies that technically he wins and I don’t like that,” Aspionall stated. “I wish to be the winner, not Curtis Blaydes, so all respect to Curtis and every little thing. Like him, good man, professionally I owe him a beating, in order that’s what I wish to do subsequent.”
Blaydes is coming off a massive win in opposition to Brazilian submission specialist Jailton Almeida at UFC 299, pounding out a victory with a collection of brutal hammer fists within the opening minute of spherical two.
Tom Aspinall is shifting on from Jon Jones
Whereas Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic is an thrilling combat on paper — pitting two of MMA’s GOATs in opposition to each other — the combat means subsequent to nothing within the grand scheme of issues. The largest matchup that may be made within the heavyweight division proper now could be Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall. And it’s a combat that Aspinall really believes he can win.
“I’m clearly assured that I might beat Jon Jones as a result of I wish to combat him,” Aspinall stated. “I’m not making it a secret that I wish to combat him. I’ve carried out every little thing I can till this level. Do I worry him? Completely. I worry all of my opponents. These guys are the very best on the planet, very best on the planet. Completely I worry him, that fuels me. So I wish to show that I’m the very best on the planet. I wish to combat Jon Jones, clearly, however he doesn’t, so there’s not lots I can do about that.”
Just lately, Aspinall and Jones met up at an event in Birmingham with the interim champ asking for the combat face-to-face. Jones, in fact, was non-committal, and primarily based on the undisputed titleholder’s physique language through the considerably awkward interplay, Aspinall could be downright shocked if the 2 of them ever stepped foot contained in the Octagon.
“No, I don’t assume Jon needs to combat,” Aspinall stated. “Clearly, I would like it. I can’t do anymore. I’ve bitched about him, I’ve cried about him, I’ve stated good things to him, stated dangerous stuff to him, I’ve requested him about preventing to his face, it’s nonetheless not occurring. I’ve requested the UFC to combat him, it’s nonetheless not occurring, so I don’t know what else I can do at this level. However I would like the combat, clearly.”
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