Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is eager to fight in his hometown of Manchester, England, this summer, and while he initially called for a title unification bout with Jon Jones, he is now open to fighting Curtis Blaydes or Ciryl Gane, as Jones seems to be set on facing Stipe Miocic.
Tom Aspinall isn’t one to twiddle his thumbs. A fight with Jon Jones? He’s not holding his breath for that one.
Last November, Aspinall bagged the interim heavyweight title. A 69-second knockout against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295, and he was the champ. He then threw down the gauntlet for a title unification bout with Jon Jones. But Jones, nursing an injury, seems more interested in facing Stipe Miocic.
Meanwhile, Aspinall’s hometown, Manchester, England, might host a Pay-Per-View event this summer. And Aspinall? He’s not about to sit on the sidelines.
“People say, ‘Just wait! No need to defend it.’ You think I’ll just sit in Manchester and watch a show in my hometown and not fight?” Aspinall voiced his thoughts on The MMA Hour. “No way. I have to fight somebody…”
Aspinall’s been out of the ring for a year due to an injury. An injury that could’ve ended his career. But he’s not ready to throw in the towel. He’s not one to sit out and wait. He’s a fighter, and he’s here to prove he’s the best.
UFC 304 might be heading to Manchester in July. If Aspinall has his way, he’ll be in the ring.
“Curtis Blaydes, definitely,” Aspinall said when asked about his potential opponent. “We were supposed to fight, but I injured my knee 15 seconds in, and he won. So, I want that fight first.”
Jon Jones is his first choice, but that’s not happening. Stipe is free, but that’s not happening either. So, it’s Blaydes. They have unfinished business. It’s nothing personal. Aspinall likes Blaydes. They’ve spent time together. But professionally, there’s a score to settle.
Blaydes is the only one who’s defeated Aspinall in the UFC. Aspinall injured his knee in their 2022 fight. Blaydes was later knocked out by Sergei Pavlovich but bounced back with a knockout win over Jailton Almeida at UFC 299.
But Blaydes might not be Aspinall’s next opponent. Former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane is still in the running. Aspinall’s open to it, but Gane wouldn’t be his first choice.
“I’ll take him out then,” Aspinall said. “He’s dismissed me before, and I’m not the first one he’s ducked. It’s out there for everyone to see. I got the Pavlovich fight because Ciryl didn’t want it. He ducked Pavlovich. He ducked Curtis Blaydes… I asked for him years ago, he didn’t want it then. I asked for him in Paris, they flew me over, we tried to make that fight, he didn’t want it. We’ll see what the UFC wants to do…”
Aspinall doesn’t discredit Gane’s skills or him as a person. He likes him. But he doesn’t like how Gane handles things professionally. Aspinall’s here to fight, not to duck fights. So, if they have to fight, excellent.
UFC 304 is rumored to be held this July at the new Co-op Live arena, set to open this month.