If Tom Aspinall will get his want, he’ll face Jon Jones subsequent within the greatest heavyweight battle in UFC historical past.
Whereas that matchup has been all he’s wished since capturing the interim heavyweight title in November 2023, the British slugger has been compelled to attend whereas Jones settled unfinished enterprise with Stipe Miocic. On Saturday night time at UFC 309, Jones did his half with a one-sided efficiency earlier than ending Miocic with a vicious spinning again kick to the physique within the third spherical.
As quickly because the battle was over, Aspinall instantly started to ponder a future the place he shares that very same octagon with Jones and he believes the UFC has the identical concept.
“Nicely when Jon Jones was doing his speech, I used to be trying straight on the UFC brass, Dana [White] and Hunter [Campbell],” Aspinall mentioned on the UFC 309 post-fight present. “Each of them turned to me on the identical time and pointed at me and winked. On the identical time. So to me, that claims there’s one thing huge within the pipeline.
“That is the most important battle within the UFC. That is huge. That is probably one of many greatest 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 that the folks need. That is the battle the UFC needs. That is the battle that the followers need. That is the battle that has to occur now.”
Whereas Jones addressed the opportunity of dealing with Aspinall, he additionally talked about his compensation as the most important impediment as to whether or not he returns for an additional battle or settles into retirement. With an almost unblemished file throughout 16 years spent with the promotion and extra wins in title fights than anybody in UFC historical past, Jones’ legacy is cemented no matter what occurs subsequent.
For his half, Aspinall received’t take something away from the physique of labor that Jones assembled throughout his profession, however he additionally is aware of they might do an terrible lot of enterprise collectively.
“I spoke to the UFC brass a bit of bit, I’m going to talk to them a bit of bit extra, and for my part, clearly I’m a bit of bit biased, however I feel that is the most important heavyweight battle in UFC historical past,” Aspinall mentioned. “That is what the folks wish to see.”
So far as what he noticed within the battle at UFC 309, Aspinall wasn’t stunned by how issues performed out.
If something, Aspinall was impressed with Jones’ skill to get the knockout. He additionally noticed that Miocic seemed each bit his age after not competing for almost 4 years along with his final look within the UFC coming all the way in which again in 2021.
“It was, as you American guys say, by design,” Aspinall mentioned. “It was precisely like I believed. It was precisely what I believed would occur. In all honesty I wasn’t certain if Jon may end him. I believed possibly it’s going to be a five-rounder at that form of tempo. Jon choosing him off, Jon maintaining his vary, Jon strolling him backwards, Jon mixing up the assaults between the top, the physique, the legs, the spinning again kicks to the physique, the wrestling, he does all of it extremely properly.
“I feel to beat Jon Jones, a very powerful factor you want is nice eyes. Good reactions, fast reactions. Be capable to see the whole lot and do the whole lot and react actually fast. In all truthfully, Stipe Miocic—and that is mentioned with a load of respect—he simply didn’t have that at 42 years previous.”
Whereas Aspinall has studied Jones in anticipation of a possible battle between them, he had truly by no means seen the reigning UFC heavyweight champion carry out in particular person previous to Saturday night time.
“I undoubtedly see openings,” Aspinall mentioned. “Whether or not I can do it or not, I don’t know. From the skin trying in, I feel I can.”