It’s inevitable that Tom Aspinall will battle for undisputed UFC heavyweight gold — nevertheless it may come earlier than anticipated.
Aspinall, who gained the interim heavyweight championship final November in Madison Sq. Backyard in what was a short-notice showdown with Russian powerhouse Sergei Pavlovich, has lengthy been campaigning for a possibility to compete for the formal championship at the moment held by Jon Jones.
Jones is slated to defend his crown in a long-delayed bout in New York with former champion Stipe Miocic subsequent month in a battle after which it’s speculated that one or each may verify their retirement from blended martial arts — a transfer which might presumably end in Aspinall’s interim title being upgraded to the true factor.
There may be one other state of affairs although — and it entails both Jones or Miocic being unable to make the stroll to the cage within the Massive Apple on November 17. And in that notably set of circumstances, Aspinall says he would be the man the UFC calls to fill the hole.
“Sure, it’s official,” Aspinall advised Ariel Helwani on Uncrowned this week of his place because the official fundamental occasion backup fighter.
“I imply, Dana introduced it some time in the past now, however I didn’t really hear something from the UFC. However now we’ve really spoken, the whole lot’s going good. We’ve come to an settlement about it, we all know what’s taking place going ahead.
“We’ve acquired plans, we’ve acquired future battle plans, the whole lot is true there. It’s gonna be a great couple of years, let me inform you. Massive plans, large, large, huge plans.”
He added: “My intestine’s telling me [I won’t be needed], to be sincere. Do I feel it’s going to occur? Is it doubtless? In my view, in all probability not. However will I be prepared? Completely.”
