Tom Aspinall would be the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion by the top of this 12 months, a minimum of in response to the oddsmakers.
The Englishman, who received the interim heavyweight title in November 2023, has been campaigning for a winner-takes-all bout with formal champion Jon Jones ever since — even taking over a uncommon defence of an interim title this previous summer time towards Curtis Blaydes whereas he awaited the conclusion of the Jones-Stipe Miocic rivalry.
However whereas Jones has expressed hesitation at defending his crown towards Aspinall following his win over Miocic inside Madison Sq. Backyard this previous November, UFC boss Dana White has expressed confidence that the struggle — billed as the largest heavyweight struggle within the UFC historical past — will go forward in 2025.
“I’ll say one hundred pc (the struggle occurs),” White mentioned final 12 months. “I feel it’s most likely the largest struggle in heavyweight historical past, and it’s an enormous struggle within the historical past of the corporate, too. It’s a giant struggle.
“From Day 1, I’ve been assured that Jon Jones would do this struggle. Even earlier than the struggle (with Miocic), I mentioned Jon will do that struggle. Jon Jones isn’t afraid to struggle anyone, and that’s a reality.”
And if it does turn into a actuality, the oddsmakers are putting their religion in Aspinall to emerge with the undisputed championship and proprietor of Jones’ first reputable defeat of his profession, a minimum of in response to one distinguished bookmaker which has supplied the under costs on a listing of heavyweight fighters ruling the division by the top of this 12 months.
Tom Aspinall: -200
Jon Jones: +175 Ciryl Gane: +1000
Alex Pereira: +1000
Sergei Pavlovich: +1400
Alexander Volkov: +1600
Curtis Blaydes: +2000
Jailton Almeida: +2500
Serghei Spivac: +5000
Jairzinho Rozenstruik: +6600
Derrick Lewis: +6600 Marcin Tybura: +6600
Tai Tuivasa: +8000
