Tom Aspinall is frustrated with Jon Jones‘ reluctance to fight him for the UFC heavyweight title, believing Jones prefers a legacy fight against Stipe Miocic and may retire afterward, leaving Aspinall feeling unrecognized as the best heavyweight despite holding the interim title.
Tom Aspinall dreams of unifying the UFC heavyweight title in a fight against Jon Jones. But, he’s pretty much lost hope that it’ll ever happen.
Despite an impressive run with eight wins and only one opponent making it to the second round, Aspinall feels sidelined. He’s holding onto an interim heavyweight title while Jones preps for a bout against Stipe Miocic in November at Madison Square Garden.
To make matters worse, Jones might retire if he beats Miocic. This could crown Aspinall as the undisputed champion, but he’d rather prove it in the cage.
“There is nowhere that you can find publicly, nowhere, him saying that he will fight me,” Aspinall said on the Believe You Me podcast. “It doesn’t exist. 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."
"The guy’s smart, and we know the guy’s a bit overweight these days. The guy sat there with Cheeto fingers or whatever, Doritos on his fingers with his iPhone in hand waiting for me to get knocked out [by Curtis Blaydes] so he could start tweeting about it.”
“Let’s be honest, and since I won that fight, he’s gone completely quiet. 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.”
Jones has commented on Aspinall before but emphasized that a fight against Miocic means more for his legacy. Miocic is considered one of the greatest heavyweights ever, holding the record for most title defenses in UFC history.
Miocic just turned 42 and is coming off a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou. He hasn’t fought since March 2021.
Jones preferring Miocic over Aspinall tells the interim champ everything he needs to know. “They don’t f*cking deserve to be fighting for the heavyweight title,” Aspinall said.
“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."
“I’m not saying they’ve not had amazing careers because I idolize those guys. I want to have a career like that. That’s what I’m aiming to do with my life is what they’ve done but they’re not the best right now."
Right now they’re definitely not the best so let’s stop talking all this bullshit like they are.”
The biggest obstacle for Aspinall isn’t Miocic but UFC CEO Dana White. White often calls Jones the top pound-for-pound fighter and greatest mixed martial artist ever.
White wants Jones to pursue a fight against another legend like Miocic. That may fulfill Jones’ desires, but Aspinall scoffs at it proving Jones is the best heavyweight.
“The way I look at it, I’m the best heavyweight in the world and I’m not getting my credit for it,” Aspinall said. “They’re holding the belt hostage and Jon Jones is loving it."
"He’s loving that Dana White gets on every interview possible — you’re talking about bantamweights and Dana White flips it back to how good Jon Jones is! If he’s that good, let’s fight."
"I’m the No. 1 heavyweight in the world right now. Let’s put it on the line and see who the man is: me or Jon? It’s as simple as that."
“I’m about being the best fighter in the world, the best heavyweight right now, and Jon Jones isn’t willing to prove it. That’s what I’m about.”
Aspinall will serve as backup for Jones vs. Miocic later this year. If called upon, he vowed to step up on an hour’s notice and beat either of them.
If Jones vs. Miocic happens without incident, Aspinall might train without fighting as a reward, but he’s willing to take that risk.
In his eyes, it’s proof he’s willing to do what Jones won’t. "I’m the guy at heavyweight, not him — me," Aspinall said.
"I want to be recognized as the best. I’ve got the real belt. I’m defending it."
"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.”