Tom Aspinall is ready and waiting for his undisputed title shot.
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) interim Heavyweight champion made his first successful title defense against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 last month (July 27, 2024). The 60-second technical knockout win (watch highlights) gave Aspinall more title defenses at Heavyweight than the undisputed titleholder, Jon Jones. Despite that, Jones is still on track to make his first defense against former two-time champion, Stipe Miocic, in November 2024.
Before Aspinall vs. Blaydes 2 became official, there was a lot of speculation around the possibility of a super fight, pitting Aspinall against the Light Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, at UFC 300 in April 2024. Since Pereira’s latest defense over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 in June 2024 (watch highlights), fantasy has expanded around a Pereira jump to Heavyweight. If it happens with Aspinall specifically, the Brit is open to it, but not for his current title.
“The guy’s a superstar in the sport so, do whatever you want,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel. “If we meet, for sure, I think we’re both on the same page, it’s gonna be for an undisputed Heavyweight title. Maybe [I’ll] see you next year at some point.
“Like I’ve said, I’ve got a lot of respect for Alex Pereira and what he’s done in the sport, and especially in a short amount of time,” he concluded. “But if we’re gonna make it happen, it’s gonna be for the undisputed title. So, see him there.”
Jones, 37, has openly stated his disinterest in defending against Aspinall and the would-be Miocic match up could be his last. No matter the outcome for Miocic, it will “100 percent” be his retirement fight, according to UFC CEO, Dana White. Therefore, the odds are looking better that Aspinall’s next fight won’t be against the winner of that fight than they are for him to face either.