call it like it is.
Saturday The main event features the heavyweight champion take over in a battle of legends where Jones is widely considered one of the greatest fighters of all time and Miocic holds the record for the most title defenses (4) by a heavyweight in UFC history.
Notably, Aspinall, the reigning interim heavyweight champion who has frequently called on Jones to meet him in a unification bout, is not included in the headliner. The fight between Jones and Miocic was originally scheduled 12 months ago, but the fight was postponed due to Jones suffering a chest injury. The UFC decided to stay the course, leaving Aspinall to defend his title in the meantime while still holding the interim title.
Aspinall is expected to step in as a replacement for Saturday but he is still wondering why he is not lining up against Jones.
“Big heavyweight title fight this weekend,” Aspinall said on his . “A little strange because honestly, who is really that interested in this fight being a title fight? I have never said anything about the careers of Jon Jones or Stipe and never will. I respect what they have accomplished in their careers. Amazing careers. What I particularly have against this fight is that it is for an undisputed heavyweight title.
“For me, and I see it for many other people online, this is anything but uncontroversial. This is the most controversial title you can ever get because there are two champions and one of the champions, Jon Jones, avoids the other champion, me. He was chosen to fight a 42 year old Stipe who has had a fantastic career. Both guys have had fantastic careers, great legacies, but let's be honest, these are two old guys fighting each other for a title and taking it, that's a bit strange.”
Jones quickly debunked this assumption although he also hasn't committed to ever fighting the interim champion. The 37-year-old is facing retirement . Jones has repeatedly stated that he is interested in building on his legacy, which includes his legendary run from 2011 to 2020 in which he not only established himself as the best to ever compete at 205 pounds, but arguably as the best to ever compete in MMA competition.
That doesn't matter to Aspinall as he's solely focused on settling the debate about who really is the No. 1 heavyweight right now.
“The thing about Jon is he’s a bit of a politician,” Aspinall said. “He likes to control the narrative of what the fans think. I've never inherited Jon's inheritance. I think it's incredible, I think his legacy will be superior to mine and most of the guys that fight in the UFC. Never had a problem with his inheritance. I personally never had a problem with him.
“The problem is he has the heavyweight title and I’m the No. 1 heavyweight in the world. Ever since I was a little boy, ever since I started training, my dad and I have had the dream that I would become the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion of the world, and he has it, he holds it hostage and hasn't won fights with me for it. This is nothing against Jon, this is nothing against his legacy, this is nothing against his career, this is nothing against who he fights, what he fights for, if he fights for money, for his legacy, for fame, whatever, fights. That's because I want the belt and he has it. That's all I want. All I care about is that I’m the undisputed No. 1 heavyweight on planet Earth and he’s staying out of my way.”
Aspinall is currently the No. 1 ranked heavyweight in the while Jones and Miocic are not on the list because they have exceeded the 18-month inactivity threshold (Miocic has not fought since March 2021).
Although Aspinall had several outstanding victories against the best in the heavyweight division, which actually makes sense to Aspinall given Jones' recent past.
“People start acting surprised: 'Jon is a duck, Jon is a duck, this, that and the other,'” Aspinall said. “Jon Jones ducked for three years. Don't be surprised that this guy always picks fights where he has the advantage. And that's not what I mean, Jon, those are the facts. Jon is a very sensitive guy and likes to play it smart and control the fans' narrative by saying he's the GOAT – which he definitely has a case for – by saying, “That guy Tom Aspinall is a nobody.”
“I'm a nobody who's ranked No. 1 and has beaten five of the top 10 players in the first round. I'm in the top 10, so that's nine guys. I beat five of them in the first round, so there are only four guys left in the top 10 that I didn't beat. So I'm not just coming for Jon Jones, but for the belt. Whoever has the belt I want to fight if I’m not the champion.”
All Aspinall can do now is wait until the rivalry between Jones and Miocic is finally resolved and see if the winner stands. If it's Jones, Aspinall hopes logic will prevail and that “Bones” will finally agree to face him.
“Jon said I need to fight more champions, but that’s the problem I have,” Aspinall said. “Jon is the champion and he won’t fight me and he says he won’t fight me because it’s too big of a gamble.”
“And Jon, if you don't want to risk your legacy, it sounds to me like you're afraid of losing to me,” Aspinall added.
