Tom Aspinall has emerged as a formidable contender in the UFC’s heavyweight division over the past year. This has sparked discussions about a potential showdown even with reigning champion Jon Jones.
Despite a setback due to a knee injury during a bout with Curtis Blaydes, Aspinall swiftly regained momentum with impressive victories over Marcin Tybura and Sergei Pavlovich. His win culminated in him capturing the interim UFC heavyweight title at UFC 295 in November.
There is a perception among fans and commentators that the UFC would like to wait for the chance to reschedule Jones vs. Miocic. However, fans would like it better if Jones and Aspinall squared off and united the heavyweight title.
As speculation mounts regarding the next challenger for Jones’ title, a chance meeting between Aspinall and Jones fueled further anticipation. Recently, Aspinall shared details of their first encounter at a social event on March 16. A video surfaced on social media of Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall meeting for the first time.
Expressing surprise at Jones’ stature, Aspinall remarked on the size differential between them, emphasizing his confidence in facing the seasoned champion.
Aspinall said: “He’s nowhere near as big as I thought. I thought he was a lot taller. But I guess when you fight at light heavyweight for your whole career, and you’re 6’4″, you look really tall. But I’m a full-blown heavyweight. There’s no chance he’s beating me.”
“Size doesn’t matter really. We’re both massive guys. But I’ll take him. I bet I’ll beat him, definitely.”
Meanwhile, Jones’ transition to the heavyweight division has garnered significant attention following his triumphant debut at UFC 285. Securing a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane, Jones claimed the vacant UFC heavyweight championship. This signaled his intent to dominate a new weight class after dominating the light heavyweight division for the better part of a decade.
As the MMA world eagerly awaits the UFC’s decision on the next heavyweight title bout, the possibility of a clash between Aspinall and Jones looms large.