Tom Aspinall made it clear throughout his lengthy layoff that his aim was all the time turning into undisputed UFC heavyweight champion whether or not or not that led him to a struggle towards Jon Jones.
Following Jones’ retirement — that apparently lasted all of two weeks — Aspinall traveled to Las Vegas the place he spoke to UFC officers about what comes subsequent for him. He admits trying down the roster on the checklist of potential opponents that Jones was clearly the most important and most vital struggle out there to him however he expects issues within the division to start out shaking up once more along with his plans to stay a really energetic champion.
“The heavyweight division’s not precisely on hearth in the intervening time,” Aspinall told Adam Catterall after returning house to England. “From a reputation perspective. I believe the expertise’s there. However for those who look 5 plus years in the past, simply the identify worth within the high 15 was unimaginable. We’re speaking guys like Fabricio Werdum, Cain Velasquez, [Junior dos Santos], Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar, and so on, and so on. Stipe [Miocic], the checklist goes on and on. You look via the highest 15 and it’s like wow, that’s unimaginable. The place as now, even me who’s a heavyweight, I look via the highest 15 and I’m like I’ve not likely seen [these guys] struggle earlier than.
“I believe over the subsequent few years that’s going to vary. I believe there’s going to be extra large fights at heavyweight. Individuals are going to change into greater names, which is nice. We simply want extra up and coming heavyweights doing a bit within the high 15.”
The excellent news is Aspinall expects that he’ll return to motion ahead of later now that the UFC has provided him a struggle that he already accepted.
“I now have a struggle, which is able to get introduced, sadly that’s not my job,” Aspinall revealed. “However a minimum of we’ve received a date, we’ve received an opponent to work in the direction of. Every little thing’s good. Very proud of that. I can lastly get my profession going once more.”
Given the UFC calendar for the remainder of 2025, Aspinall is probably going a return to motion in October, November or December relying on the place the promotion slots him in. The October pay-per-view is about for Abu Dhabi with the UFC anticipated to journey to New York for an occasion at Madison Sq. Backyard in November.
The ultimate large present occurs in December with all indicators pointing in the direction of a homecoming in Las Vegas because the UFC closes out the yr.
Aspinall didn’t point out any dates, places or opponents, though he did deal with a few potential matchups with former interim champion Ciryl Gane doubtless sitting on the high of the checklist.
“We’ve been purported to struggle one another a few instances earlier than,” Aspinall stated about preventing Gane. “He’s just a little bit older and a minimum of he began his profession within the UFC just a little bit sooner than I did. So after I was in, it was all the time like I used to be making an attempt to struggle him as a result of he was just a bit bit above me on a regular basis.
“Struggle by no means materialized. He turned me down a few instances, to be sincere. I don’t assume he wished to struggle down the rankings. I don’t know. I get it. I’m a foul struggle for everyone. It’s a dangerous struggle for everyone. So I perceive why you wouldn’t wish to struggle down the rankings as properly however I’m positive that struggle’s going to occur ultimately.”
Aspinall additionally addressed Jailton Almeida, who has been fairly vocal in calling for a heavyweight title shot.
“I prefer it,” Aspinall stated concerning the Brazilian. “I believe he’s good. Took a loss to [Curtis] Blaydes however he appears good. There’s not a whole lot of good heavyweights round. He appears first rate.”
One other potential identify for the long run is Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov, who Aspinall defeated through armbar submission again in 2022. Since then, Volkov has gone 4-1 along with his solely loss coming in an in depth, considerably controversial cut up resolution to Gane this previous December.
Whereas it doesn’t sound like Aspinall is speeding in the direction of any rematches proper now, he positively sees Volkov as a future opponent sooner or later.
“I really thought [Volkov] received the Gane struggle as properly. To be sincere,” Aspinall stated. “Simply however I believe he received it. To be sincere, I knew how good Volkov was after I struggle him. He’s actually good. He’s actually, actually good. I believe he has improved since then. I believe we in all probability will rematch in some unspecified time in the future. I’d think about so. I wasn’t excellent then compared to what I’m like now.
“So if we do rematch, that will be attention-grabbing. Don’t get me unsuitable, there’s by no means any two fights which might be the identical however I believe for those who examine now to evaluating me to 3 or 4 years in the past, at any time when that struggle was, you’ve received to keep in mind that was my first most important occasion as properly. That was my first time preventing in entrance of a crowd as properly. That was after the pandemic. Method, approach completely different now than it was then. I believe that struggle will occur once more, I’d think about. I believe Volkov’s going to maintain successful. I believe that struggle will occur in some unspecified time in the future for positive.”
Irrespective of the opponent, Aspinall is simply excited to get again to work after a irritating yr off however he positively sees new challenges awaiting him now that he’s the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.
“There’s a couple of guys I’ve not fought,” Aspinall stated. “I received’t point out any names as a result of they’ll simply lower it up and submit it however the guys that I’ve not fought know who they’re and so they’re the fellows that I wish to struggle.”
