Aspinall's Knockout Victory Paves New Paths in Heavyweight Division
Tom Aspinall's recent commanding knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich has significantly shaken up the dynamics of the UFC heavyweight division. This victory earned Aspinall the interim title, marking a pivotal moment in his burgeoning career. The triumph followed another authoritative performance against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, further cementing Aspinall's status as a formidable contender.
However, the heavyweight landscape remains in flux, mainly due to unforeseen developments surrounding the highly anticipated bout between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Originally set for UFC 295 on November 11, 2023, the fight was postponed when Jones withdrew due to an injury. Consequently, Miocic was also pulled from the card, leaving fans and analysts speculating about the future of this matchup. Rumors now suggest that the fight might be rescheduled for UFC 309 on November 16.
Aspinall's Outspoken Critique of Jon Jones
In the wake of these shifts, Aspinall has not shied away from voicing his opinions on Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Aspinall contends that neither Jones nor Miocic represents the pinnacle of today's heavyweight division. "Let's be honest, and since I won that fight, he's gone completely quiet. 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," Aspinall remarked, underscoring his confidence and willingness to take on the best.
Aspinall also challenged the notion that Jones, who is 37 years old, is willing to fight him. "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," he asserted. Aspinall continued his criticism by highlighting Jones' current lifestyle, suggesting that the former champion is no longer in top form. "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," Aspinall quipped.
Jones' Perspective and Legacy Goals
For his part, Jon Jones has also shared his thoughts on the current state of his career and future aspirations. "Maybe Tom will go on and beat Stipe's record one day, right now I'm focusing on goat things. 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 stated, reflecting on his storied career and his desire to leave a lasting legacy.
Jones has made it clear that he aims to finish his career on a high note. "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," he declared, indicating his plans to join the ranks of retired sports legends.
Debate Over Who's the Best
The debate over who deserves to be considered the top heavyweight in the UFC is far from settled. Aspinall has been vocal about his belief that Jones and Miocic don't merit their current positions. "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," Aspinall stated bluntly.
Aspinall believes that he holds the true claim to the heavyweight throne. "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," he said, making his case for why he should be seen as the legitimate champion.
UFC fans are glued to the unfolding drama within the heavyweight division, eagerly awaiting the rescheduled Jones vs. Miocic bout and pondering the claims made by Aspinall. The coming months promise to bring clarity and perhaps new chapters in the storied careers of these heavyweight titans.