Aspinall's Ascent and Jon Jones' Future: The Heavyweight Division Shakedown
Tom Aspinall has been making waves in the UFC, and his recent knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich to claim the interim title has cemented his status as a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division. Aspinall's performance against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 was nothing short of commanding, demonstrating his prowess and potential to dominate the division.
The heavyweight scene took a notable turn when the highly-anticipated Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic bout, originally set for UFC 295 on November 11, 2023, was postponed due to an injury-induced withdrawal by Jones. In light of Jones’ exit, Miocic was also pulled from the card. Rumors are now swirling that the Jones vs. Miocic fight could be rescheduled for UFC 309 on November 16.
As this potential rescheduling unfolds, Aspinall hasn't been shy about expressing his opinions on Jones' and Miocic's standing in the current heavyweight landscape. "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 boldly declared.
Jones, at 37 years old, has had a storied career and aims to end it 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," Jones said. His future plans underscore a desire to cement his legacy among sports legends before hanging up his gloves.
Aspinall has not held back his critique of Jones, especially regarding his current form and lifestyle. "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's jabs add fuel to the fire for a potential clash between the two fighters.
Despite the anticipation from fans for the rescheduled Jones vs. Miocic bout, Aspinall questions their relevance in the heavyweight division today. "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," he asserted, emphasizing his belief that he stands above them both in the current ranks.
Jones, however, appears unfazed by Aspinall's provocations, focusing instead on what many commentators have deemed his "greatest of all time" (GOAT) status. "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 remarked, a testament to his legacy and self-confidence.
Aspinall, undeterred, is determined to be recognized as the best in the division. "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," Aspinall stated, laying down a formidable challenge to Jones.
As the narrative unfolds, UFC fans remain on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting not just the rescheduled Jones vs. Miocic battle, but also the potential fireworks a Jones vs. Aspinall fight would bring to the octagon. With verbal jabs exchanged and titles on the line, the heavyweight division is bracing for what could be a historic showdown.