The reverberations of Tom Aspinall's sensational knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich are still being felt in the MMA world, as the English fighter secured the interim heavyweight title with a decisive finish. Aspinall's commanding performance at UFC 304 against Curtis Blaydes further cemented his reputation as a top contender in the division.
However, the conversation surrounding the heavyweight division isn't moving away from Aspinall's achievements; instead, it is increasingly focusing on the anticipated showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Originally scheduled for UFC 295 on November 11, 2023, the bout had to be postponed due to an injury-induced withdrawal by Jones, which also led to Miocic being pulled from the card. Rumors now suggest that the fight might be rescheduled for UFC 309 on November 16.
While fans eagerly await the rescheduled bout, Aspinall hasn't shied away from expressing his opinions, particularly about Jones' status in the heavyweight division. "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."
Aspinall's criticisms aren't limited to Jones' silence. He questioned the 37-year-old veteran's commitment and physical condition, hitting back at the suggestion that Jones might face him after fighting Miocic. "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. "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."
Meanwhile, Jones seems unfazed by the whirlwind around him, setting his sights on a grand 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. 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, exuding confidence despite the competitive fire being stoked by up-and-comers like Aspinall.
Aspinall, however, remains unconvinced about both Jones and Miocic's current stature in the heavyweight landscape. "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 boldly declared. Further solidifying his stance, he added, "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 narrative around Jones is equally compelling. The veteran, who has hinted at retirement, is eager to close out 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," Jones revealed, underscoring his ambitions beyond the octagon.
As fans weigh in on the ongoing debates and the potential rescheduling of Jones vs. Miocic, the dynamic nature of the heavyweight division continues to captivate. Whether Aspinall's critiques will push Jones to respond or if the fight fans crave will materialize as a defining moment in the division remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the heavyweight landscape is anything but static, brimming with narratives that keep the MMA community eagerly engaged.