September 17, 2024 11:42 pm ET
LAS VEGAS – The UFC 309 primary occasion backup fighter doesn’t come as a shock.
Interim champion Tom Aspinall would be the first telephone name made ought to the heavyweight title battle between champion Jon Jones or challenger Stipe Miocic want a alternative, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Tuesday.
“Sure, Tom Aspinall is subsequent in line for something that occurs after this battle,” White stated after Dana White’s Contender Series 72 on the UFC Apex.
UFC 309 takes place Nov. 16 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York. Ought to every little thing go based on plan and Aspinall not be want, the principle occasion will mark the top of an ongoing logjam on the prime of the promotion’s heavyweight division.
For over a yr, the promotion has remained lifeless set on Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) vs. Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) as the following heavyweight title battle. It was initially scheduled for UFC 295 in November 2023, however an injury to Jones pushed the fight back 12 months. In that battle’s absence, Aspinall defeated Serghei Pavlovich for an interim title. He then defended it against Curtis Blaydes in July. Each fights he ended contained in the opening minutes.
Though Jones has referred to as Miocic his ultimate battle (as recently as Saturday), White has regularly voiced his hunch Jones’ combating profession will prolong past that. White stated he hasn’t spoken to Jones about fights past the one presently on the books.
“Why communicate to him after this (previous weekend’s) occasion?” White stated. “You’ve received to determine what’s going to occur on this battle, see how this battle performs out, after which we’ll go from there.”
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