Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall believes he’s subsequent up Jon Jones after receiving a sign from the UFC brass.
After stopping Stipe Miocic with a vicious spinning again kick to the physique in the principle occasion of UFC 309, Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) hopped on the mic with Joe Rogan and revealed he plans to proceed preventing, halting rumors of retirement.
Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who was tabbed because the backup possibility for the battle, watched Jones deal with enterprise from cageside, and likewise listened carefully to Jones’ phrases on the mic. When he heard his identify talked about, Aspinall stated he locked eyes with Dana White and Hunter Campbell.
“When Jon Jones was doing his speech, I used to be trying straight on the UFC brass, Dana and Hunter,” Aspinall stated on the ESPN post-fight present. “Each of them turned to me on the similar time and pointed at me and winked. On the similar time. So to me, that claims there’s one thing large within the pipeline.”
After being current all battle week, not realizing if his providers as a backup fighter can be wanted on the final second, Aspinall leaves New York with extra confidence that the subsequent time he and Jones step into the octagon, it is going to be to unify the heavyweight title.
Mixed with White’s insistence that the winner of the UFC 309 foremost occasion would face Aspinall subsequent, the Englishman feels he’s in place to get the chance to show he’s the most effective heavyweight on the earth.
“That is huge,” Aspinall stated. “That is probably one of many largest fights in MMA proper now. If that doesn’t curiosity Jon Jones, then I don’t know what else we are able to do. All people is aware of that that is the battle to make. That is the battle the individuals need. That is the battle the UFC desires, that is the battle the followers need, and that is the battle that has to occur now.”
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