Interim UFC heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall is on the verge of getting his wish granted.
Tom Aspinall has waited almost two full years for a clash with Jon Jones for the lineal UFC heavyweight championship. But after a marathon wait for Jones to sign the dotted line, it appears the long saga is reaching a finality.
Aspinall made a rare interim title defense against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 last July. Since then, he’s returned his full-time attention towards a potential clash with Jones, especially after the latter’s dominant win at UFC 309 in November.
It’s been a roller coaster the last few months for Aspinall as he’s continuously waited for Jones and the UFC matchmakers to come to terms on a deal. Negotiations got to a point where the Aspinall vs. Jones fight seemed in desperate limbo, before Aspinall got clarity from UFC CBO Hunter Campbell during a recent meeting.
Tom Aspinall teases imminent Jon Jones fight news
Just days after labeling Jones a ‘strange guy’, Aspinall seems to have some great news to report, but won’t after a recent promise to the UFC heads.
During a recent upload to his YouTube channel, Aspinall provided an encouraging update on his UFC return.
“I know everyone wants fight news, but I do know what’s happening now,” Aspinall said.
“I have been sworn to secrecy for a little bit, so stay tuned… but there will be news coming, hopefully very soon.”
UFC CEO Dana White recently hinted that Jones vs. Aspinall is ‘done’, but that the promotion is working out the finer details regarding the matchup. The fight could potentially come to fruition for the UFC’s International Fight Week card in June, especially after Dricus du Plessis‘s rumored injury.
Jones captured the then-vacant heavyweight title by finishing Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. After a long hiatus due to injury, Jones made his long-awaited first title defense at UFC 309, finishing Stipe Miocic with a late-round TKO.
Jon Jones’s former rival encouraged him to ‘walk away’ from Tom Aspinall clash
One of Jones’s past light heavyweight rivals feels the UFC heavyweight champ is making a big mistake in facing Aspinall later this year. Vitor Belfort encouraged Jones to ‘walk away’ and retire on a high note, avoiding the risk the Aspinall fight presents.
Belfort almost handed Jones one of his lone career blemishes, dislocating Jones’s shoulder before the then-light heavyweight champion popped it back into place. Jones went on to win the fight dominantly.
Many believe Aspinall will present the toughest test of Jones’s career, ahead of his past clashes with Dominick Reyes and Alexander Gustafsson. Time will tell if the UFC’s biggest heavyweight fight becomes a reality.
