October 15, 2024 12:30 pm ET
Tom Aspinall argues that the most effective heavyweight on the earth is within the UFC.
When requested his ideas on Francis Ngannou calling himself the No. 1 heavyweight, UFC interim heavyweight champion Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) put an asterisk on his degree of competitors shifting ahead.
Former UFC champion Ngannou (17-3) takes on 2023 PFL champion Renan Ferreira (13-3) within the PFL: Battle of the Giants fundamental occasion Saturday at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (ESPN+ pay-per-view, DAZN).
The newly launched superfights belt will likely be on the road, and their matchup is being marketed as a struggle to crown the “Baddest Man on the Planet.” Aspinall questions the validity of that assertion.
“I’ve lots of respect for Francis,” Aspinall mentioned on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I’ve lots of respect for him, and I actually admire his story. I actually admire what he’s carried out within the sport, nevertheless it’s onerous to debate proper now. The man he’s combating, he’s not elite. Have you learnt what I imply? And the blokes he’ll be combating sooner or later aren’t elite, and it’s so simple as that. These aren’t the most effective guys on the earth. The man he’s combating fought a buddy of mine and a coaching accomplice of mine, Ante Delija (two years in the past), and Ante simply destroyed him inside a minute or two. Took him down, floor and pounded him and stopped him inside the first minute, and now this man’s combating Francis Ngannou. “So, the man isn’t elite, his opponent. Yeah, he’s huge. Yeah, he’s highly effective. Yeah, he may knock you out, however he’s not an elite heavyweight. I’m not disrespecting him. The elite guys will not be within the PFL. The elite guys are within the UFC. It’s tough to say that (Ngannou) is the most effective heavyweight on the earth when he isn’t combating elite guys proper now.”
Aspinall confirmed that he’ll weigh in as a backup for the heavyweight title struggle between champion Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, which headlines UFC 309 Nov. 16 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York.
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