A much-desired title unification fight between UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and his interim counterpart Tom Aspinall continues to be the talk of the town.
Despite Aspinall having the interim belt wrapped around his waist in 2023, both Jones and the promotion remained steadfast on a decision to reschedule the champ’s clash with the returning Stipe Miocic.
And a few months on from Aspinall successfully defending his strap in Manchester, that went down this past weekend inside Madison Square Garden, where Jones vs. Miocic headlined the UFC 309 pay-per-view.
As many had predicted, Miocic looked a far cry from the iteration that enjoyed two stints on the heavyweight throne. And after a dominant start from “Bones,” the Rochester native ultimately closed the show in round three with a brutal spinning side kick to the body.
It didn’t take long for Aspinall’s name to once again be presented to Jones. Although he appeared to entertain the prospect of facing the Brit inside the Octagon, his post-fight press conference told a different story.
But despite the fight appearing to remain a significant distance away from coming to fruition, that hasn’t stopped the fanbase from pondering who would emerge as undisputed king.
In the immediate aftermath of Jones’ win, the betting lines had Aspinall favored to do so.
Aspinall has widely been branded the leading man when it comes to the ‘new generation’ of heavyweights competing on MMA’s biggest stage, with his speed, power, and agility helping him accumulate an 8-1 record in the UFC — the sole defeat on which came by way of a freak knee injury.
With that in mind, many seem to be leaning toward the interim champ when pondering his chances against Jones, with some even suggesting that the line should be wider in his favor.
Some others, however, were left bemused by seeing a leading candidate for GOAT status sat as an underdog.