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UFC News: Tom Aspinall Ditches Jon Jones for Blaydes vs. Almeida Winner as UFC Interim Champ Looks for Undisputed Title Glory

Published 01/28/2024, 10:58 PM EST

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The fate of the heavyweight division is swinging like a pendulum. Jon Jones is retired hurt and Stipe Miocic only wants Jones as his opponent. This dilemma has left the interim champ, Tom Aspinall in the doldrums. The Britisher called out both of the heavyweight legends to fight but no one paid any heed to his words. So what’s next for the young talent?

Well, Aspinall is not a guy who is made to stop. Aspinall has now issued a challenge to both Curtis Blaydes and Jailton Almeida. Why and how you ask? Let’s get down the rabbit hole right away.

Tom Aspinall chose to move on

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The Interim champion seems to have done with the waiting part. Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic have ducked him and as a young fighter, Aspinall is not keen on waiting any further for the next part of his career. While in conversation with TNT Sports, the Britisher made it clear that he is fighting the winner of Curtis Blaydes and Jailton Almeida’s fight.

“Blaydes got a fight coming up against Almeida. I technically have lost to Blaydes in the UFC. I would like to get that one back, and that’s what makes sense for me personally right now. So, I’m hearing strong rumors from reliable sources that that’s gonna happen,” said Aspinall.

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He further explained that he is done with waiting further for the UFC to give him the championship fight- “Like I said, if Blaydes takes care of business, which he should, me and him in Manchester would be the best thing. I guess if Almeida wins, I guess that makes sense as well. I mean, ultimately, it’s pretty obvious. I guess I’m fighting for the undisputed next. But if it’s not gonna happen, I’m not gonna wait forever.” 

Blaydes and Almeida are set to go head-to-head in the United States at UFC 299 scheduled for March. Aspinall is ready to just fight anyone, but regardless, Jones is still in his mind, and as per a UFC veteran, their fight might be one of the biggest in UFC’s history.

Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones a record breaker?

As per UFC veteran, Chael Sonnen, a fight between Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones has the potential to reshape the entire dynamics of the heavyweight division. The Hogan vs. Warrior clash became iconic as both held active WWE titles, marking an early ‘champion vs. champion’ moment.

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Drawing parallels, Chael Sonnen suggested the Jones vs. Aspinall bout had the potential for a similar narrative in the UFC. He emphasized the framing of the fight could have echoed the captivating champion vs. champion dynamic of the Hogan vs. Warrior showdown.

“The interim champion [Aspinall] vs. the undisputed champion [Jones]. That is Hulk Hogan vs. The Warrior. It is so rare in MMA that both guys leave the locker room with an active belt. It is so rare, and it is so special in the coveted division of heavyweight,” said Sonnen on his YouTube handle.

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Sadly for the MMA fans, their clash might not happen as both Jones and Miocic are astute in their stance to take on each other. Despite this, Aspinall is hoping to earn the heavyweight gold someday. What’s your opinion on Tom Aspinall’s statement?

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Written by:

Suryakant Das

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I'm Suryakant Das, an avid sports enthusiast from a family that cherishes the world of sports. I still vividly recall the day my father took me to watch Indian wrestling, sparking my fascination with the discipline and the aura of those warriors. Over time, my love for combat sports grew, and now, I'm a UFC writer at EssentiallySports.
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Edited by:

Joyita Das