Tom Aspinall, the rising star of the UFC, continues to dominate headlines following his impressive knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich, which secured him the interim title. His recent triumph has amplified his criticisms of fellow heavyweight Jon Jones, a veteran in the sport.
In a telling interview, Aspinall did not hold back his thoughts on Jones, who at 37 years old, has also carved out a legendary career. "Let's be honest, and since I won that fight, he's gone completely quiet," Aspinall remarked. "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."
UFC 295 and Beyond
The much-anticipated bout between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic was originally scheduled for UFC 295 on November 11, 2023. However, Jones' withdrawal due to injury resulted in the fight being postponed, with speculations suggesting a potential rescheduling for UFC 309 on November 16. Consequently, Miocic was also pulled from the card.
Jones has been relatively quiet following these developments, a fact that did not escape Aspinall's notice. "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," Aspinall asserted.
Jones Hits Back
In response to Aspinall's comments, Jones emphasized his own storied career and future goals. "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 stated. He made it clear that his priorities lie in concluding his career on a triumphant note rather than engaging with Aspinall.
Jones acknowledged the hunger of the new blood in the division but positioned himself as the elder statesman focused on his legacy. "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," he declared.
The Criticism of Inactivity
Aspinall's critique extended beyond potential match-ups and into Jones' lifestyle choices. He suggested that Jones' inactivity and physical condition indicated a reluctance to face top contenders in today's heavyweight division. "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 mused.
Aspinall is not shy about asserting his position in the heavyweight hierarchy. "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 firmly stated.
Aspinall’s Rising Star
Beyond his verbal sparring with Jones, Aspinall’s ascension in the UFC speaks volumes. His commanding performance against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 added another layer to his growing reputation. Aspinall's ambition is clear: he wants the recognition that comes with being the best, and he will not settle for anything less. "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 exclaimed.
As UFC fans eagerly await the rescheduled bout between Jones and Miocic, the drama within the heavyweight division continues to unfold. Aspinall's rise and his pointed critiques of established champions add an intriguing dynamic to the sport. Whether or not Jones will respond with action in the octagon remains to be seen, but Aspinall's challenge to the status quo is impossible to ignore.