Aspinall's Dominant Knockout Victory Secures Interim Title
In a recent showcase of his formidable skills, Tom Aspinall delivered a decisive knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich to claim the interim title. This victory further cements Aspinall's position as a rising star in the heavyweight division. His commanding performance against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 left no room for doubt about his capabilities inside the octagon.
Amid Aspinall's ascent, the heavyweight division is also witnessing a swath of changes and postponements. Initially, the highly anticipated bout between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic was scheduled for UFC 295 on November 11, 2023. However, an injury-induced withdrawal by Jones necessitated the bout's postponement, leading to Miocic being pulled from the card as well. Rumors now suggest that this bout might be rescheduled for UFC 309 on November 16.
An Opinionated Aspinall Adds to the Drama
Tom Aspinall has not hesitated to voice his opinions about Jon Jones. "Let's be honest, and since I won that fight, he's gone completely quiet," Aspinall commented, implying that Jones is avoiding a confrontation with him. "He'll continue to go completely quiet about me until he retires. Because there's no way on Earth that he's going to fight me. Not a chance. I will retire Jon Jones without even fighting him."
The interim titleholder further challenged Jones' statements, asserting, "I challenge anybody watching this interview to go and find the statement, quote, a video where Jon Jones is saying that he'll fight me after he's fought Stipe. It doesn't exist."
These bold claims are coupled with criticism of Jones’ current lifestyle. Aspinall remarked, "The guy's smart, and we know the guy's a bit overweight these days. The guy sat there with the Cheeto fingers or whatever, Doritos on his fingers with his iPhone in hand waiting for me to get knocked out [by Blaydes] so he could start tweeting about it."
Jones’ Aspirations and Response
Jon Jones, who is now 37 years old, appears to have his sights set on a strong finish to his illustrious career. "Maybe Tom will go on and beat Stipe's record one day. Right now, I'm focusing on "goat things,"" Jones stated. "The beautiful thing about being in my position is I'm not defined by one fight. Most of you grew up watching me win."
Jones has consistently expressed his desire to end his career on a high note. He stated, "I'm 37 years old now, I've kicked everyone's ass. My job is to finish strong and make an amazing movie. Go join Tom Brady, Floyd Mayweather and all the other retired bad asses."
Despite his focus on retirement, Jones' inactivity and choice of opponents have not gone unnoticed. Aspinall criticized, "They don't f---ing deserve to be fighting for the heavyweight title. Them guys are not the top of the heavyweight division right now. Dana White and everybody else can say whatever they want; them guys aren't the best heavyweights in the world right now."
The Future of the Heavyweight Division
Aspinall's assertion of his dominance in the division was clear. "I'm the guy at heavyweight, not him -- me. I want to be recognized as the best. I've got the real belt. I'm the one defending. He's defending against a 42-year-old Stipe Miocic with a million miles on the clock. If you want to be the real guy, you have to fight me."
The mixed martial arts community eagerly awaits the rescheduled bout between Jones and Miocic. UFC fans are excited to see how the narrative unfolds, especially with such high stakes and intense rivalries at play. Aspinall's performance and outspoken statements have only added to the intrigue, setting the stage for future confrontations that could reshape the landscape of the heavyweight division.