Tag: tom aspinall

Magomed Ankalaev Becomes Latest To Brand Jon Jones ‘Scared’ Of Tom Aspinall, Champ Hits Back

The pressure on UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones to fight Tom Aspinall is continuing to mount just days away from his first title defense. Jones will return to the cage 20 months on from his crowning in March 2023, when he debuted at heavyweight by rapidly submitting Ciryl Gane to capture the then-vacant belt. While […]

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The pressure on UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones to fight Tom Aspinall is continuing to mount just days away from his first title defense.

Jones will return to the cage 20 months on from his crowning in March 2023, when he debuted at heavyweight by rapidly submitting Ciryl Gane to capture the then-vacant belt.

While his first challenger was also penciled in last year, an injury forced Jones out of a Madison Square Garden headliner opposite the returning Stipe Miocic. A year on, the pair will give their matchup another go in the main event of UFC 309 at MSG.

That, however, is despite the presence of an interim titleholder in Aspinall, who had gold wrapped around his waist after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in their late-notice clash last November, which replaced the original Jones vs. Miocic showdown.

Having also defended his strap in the months since, Aspinall has plenty of backers when it comes to his calls for a unification fight. But not only did Jones dismiss that for his upcoming defense, he’s also seemingly planning to either hang up his gloves or target the champ from below, Alex Pereira, should he get past Miocic on Saturday night.

“Bones” has been responding to much criticism online for that stance, and though that’s seen him hit back at fans for the most part, his latest back and forth came with the top contender in the division he formerly ruled.

Commenting on a social media post detailing Jones’ recent remarks about favoring a clash with “Poatan” over his interim counterpart, Magomed Ankalaev joined in with those suggesting the Rochester native is ducking Aspinall.

“Sound like someone (scared) of big TOM,” Ankalaev wrote.

It didn’t take long for Jones to take notice of the Russian’s words, branding him ‘jealous’ and challenging the surging light heavyweight to replicate his résumé on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

“Magomed jealousy won’t earn you legend status, my friend,” Jones wrote. “Train harder, hate less. Want to truly insult me? Break some of my records first. Let’s get started.”

It stands to reason that Aspinall will be a prominent topic throughout UFC 309 fight week, especially given the interim champ’s presence in New York City as the backup fighter for the main event.

Continue Reading Magomed Ankalaev Becomes Latest To Brand Jon Jones ‘Scared’ Of Tom Aspinall, Champ Hits Back at MMA News.

Jon Jones Shrugs Off ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Accusations: ‘Oh No, My World Is Over’

Jon Jones seems in no mood to entertain claims that he’s dodging a potential clash with Tom Aspinall. Jones is locked in to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 309, set for Nov. 16 at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City. During a […]

Continue Reading Jon Jones Shrugs Off ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Accusations: ‘Oh No, My World Is Over’ at MMA News.

Jon Jones seems in no mood to entertain claims that he’s dodging a potential clash with Tom Aspinall.

Jones is locked in to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 309, set for Nov. 16 at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City.

During a recent interview with MMA journalist Kevin Iole, “Bones” decisively dismissed the notion of facing interim champion Aspinall next, should he triumph over Miocic at UFC 309. He argued that, despite Aspinall’s persistent calls for a title unification fight, the Brit has yet to prove himself worthy of sharing the Octagon with him.

Instead, Jones hinted that the fight he’s truly eyeing after next weekend is a high-stakes showdown with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, a bout that would solidify his legacy for good.

Jones has faced fierce backlash from a segment of the MMA community, with accusations swirling that he’s “ducking” a showdown with Aspinall. The drama recently spilled onto social media once again, where “Bones” fired back at his critics in a post that has since been deleted.

“I’m going to hide in my mansion and not come outside, people are calling me a duck come oh no my world is over” Jones tweeted. “What is this high school? lol”

Soon after, the longtime former UFC light heavyweight champion posted a more introspective reply, emphasizing that his actions are driven by purpose and that he remains unfazed by external criticism.

“As at this point in my career, every decision is rooted in purpose,” Jones posted. “My journey isn’t dictated by hype or outside opinions—it’s about crafting a legacy that speaks for itself, one step at a time. I’m here to do what’s right for my career and my legacy, with a vision that’s clear and unshakable. Focused, driven, and in complete control of myself. The story continues, and it’s unfolding exactly as I’ve envisioned.”

UFC 309 will mark Jones’ long-awaited return to the Octagon after more than a year on the sidelines since claiming the heavyweight title with a victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.

He was initially slated to defend his title against Miocic at UFC 295, but the New Yorker was forced to withdraw just two weeks before the fight due to a torn pectoral muscle.

Continue Reading Jon Jones Shrugs Off ‘Ducking’ Aspinall Accusations: ‘Oh No, My World Is Over’ at MMA News.

VIDEO: Tom Aspinall Trades Kicks In Dead Leg Contest With Kickboxing World Champion

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been able to build a perfect training regime around him in England where he only works with other large bodies. His specifically tailored training has been a huge benefit to the Brit but it also doesn’t stop him from travelling from time to time to work with some […]

Continue Reading VIDEO: Tom Aspinall Trades Kicks In Dead Leg Contest With Kickboxing World Champion at MMA News.

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been able to build a perfect training regime around him in England where he only works with other large bodies. His specifically tailored training has been a huge benefit to the Brit but it also doesn’t stop him from travelling from time to time to work with some other specialist partners.

A long-time friend and training partner of his is none other than “The King of Kickboxing”, Rico Verhoeven. The Dutch striker is the long-reigning heavyweight champion in GLORY and with his next title defense scheduled for GLORY Collision 7 on December 7, he recently got some sparring rounds in with one of the best heavyweights in MMA.

Though he didn’t show what could be PPV quality sparring rounds between the two lethal strikers, Aspinall did put up a YouTube video that featured the elite kickboxer. As well as their conversation regarding a potential crossover fight between Verhoeven and Francis Ngannou, the interim heavyweight champion invited him on the channel for a “dead leg challenge” which guests have featured on in the past.

Here, both competitors will take turns throwing leg kicks that start at very low percent power and slowly build. However, usually these guests are not fighters so Aspinall is teaching them the technique and then getting them to do it to him which has little impact on him.

This time around, in his own words, he is the beginner when he’s in the company of Verhoeven who is one of the best leg kickers in the sport. Given that both of them are very effective kickers, they chose to start right from the 70% mark, going up 10% each time for a total of three kicks each.

Though Aspinall is able to take the punishment and dish it back out, Verhoeven seems to be enjoying himself more and more with each kick that he takes. His incredible durability is one of his biggest strengths, especially when it comes to competing in Grand Prix tournaments and it’s clear to see why in this video.

Continue Reading VIDEO: Tom Aspinall Trades Kicks In Dead Leg Contest With Kickboxing World Champion at MMA News.

Jon Jones Picks Alex Pereira Over Tom Aspinall As Preferred Next Opponent

Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight championship for the first time against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. After winning the title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023, the newly crowned champion suffered a shoulder injury that delayed his fight with the former UFC heavyweight kingpin. While many fans are interested in watching two legends […]

Continue Reading Jon Jones Picks Alex Pereira Over Tom Aspinall As Preferred Next Opponent at MMA News.

Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight championship for the first time against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. After winning the title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023, the newly crowned champion suffered a shoulder injury that delayed his fight with the former UFC heavyweight kingpin.

While many fans are interested in watching two legends face each other before they hang up their gloves, others simply want the UFC heavyweight division to move forward. Tom Aspinall has defended his interim UFC heavyweight belt once and has finished most top contenders in the first round.

Jones is a considerable favorite against Miocic, and while he’s teased retirement in the past, he discussed potential future opponents during an interview on the Kevin Iole YouTube channel.

“Tom Aspinall, is, I don’t want to say nobody but, he just hasn’t proven anything. He hasn’t done anything and I understand that, I mean he won his belt against Sergei. Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else, so, it’s just like, I’m not here to gamble someone else making a name off of me,” He continued. “A guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be, not only financially worth it, but, legacy worth it, would be Alex Pereira.”

When asked if he would fight Aspinall after beating Miocic, Jones outright rejected the current interim UFC heavyweight champion. He compared the English heavyweight to Johnny Walker, who many thought could dethrone “Bones” at light heavyweight.

“Bones” mentioned that he’s accepted a fair amount of risky fights back in the day, and he now only expects an opponent that makes sense to him financially and legacy-wise. On these grounds, he named Alex Pereira a more exciting fight than Aspinall.

Unsurprisingly, “Bones” is being called out for not giving any credit at all to an interim champion with a title defense. That said, it’s hard to speculate on the future of the heavyweight division accurately until the UFC 309 main event concludes.

Continue Reading Jon Jones Picks Alex Pereira Over Tom Aspinall As Preferred Next Opponent at MMA News.

Dana White & Jon Jones Share Contradictory Answers On If Aspinall Fight Will Happen After UFC 309

Dana White and Jon Jones recently offered starkly different opinions on whether the much-anticipated fight with Tom Aspinall will come to fruition following UFC 309. Jones is set to make the first defense of his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The two were originally […]

Continue Reading Dana White & Jon Jones Share Contradictory Answers On If Aspinall Fight Will Happen After UFC 309 at MMA News.

Dana White and Jon Jones recently offered starkly different opinions on whether the much-anticipated fight with Tom Aspinall will come to fruition following UFC 309.

Jones is set to make the first defense of his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The two were originally scheduled to face off at UFC 295 in November 2023, but the fight was scrapped at the last minute after “Bones” suffered a torn pectoral muscle.

As a result, Aspinall stepped in to claim the interim heavyweight title with a stunning knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. Since then, the Brit has been outspoken about his desire to face Jones in a title unification bout. However, the former light heavyweight champion has repeatedly brushed off the idea, with the UFC CEO also firmly asserting that Jones’ next challenge will remain Miocic.

Both Jones and Miocic have repeatedly suggested that their upcoming bout could mark the end of their careers. Despite that, in a recent interview with TNT Sports, White expressed his belief that the winner of UFC 309 would likely face Aspinall next.

But during an interview with MMA reporter Kevin Iole, “Bones” outright rejected the notion of facing Aspinall next should he emerge victorious against Miocic next weekend.

Jones argued that the interim heavyweight champion has yet to prove himself worthy of facing him in the Octagon.

“I feel like Tom Aspinall is — I don’t want to say nobody, but he just hasn’t proven anything; he hasn’t done anything. And I understand that, I mean, he won his belt against Sergei, but Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else. So it’s just like, I’m not here to gamble with someone else making a name off of me.”

Jones went on to say that he’s primarily focused on competing against high-profile opponents, those capable of elevating his already storied career. At the moment, reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira is the opponent who piques his interest the most.

“If there were to be a fight with a guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be not only financially worth it but legacy-worthy, it would be Alex Pereira. Alex Pereira and I are both 37 years old right now. I weigh about 235 [pounds]; I’m an incredibly light heavyweight. I think Pereira walks around at 240, and I think that fight would add much more to my legacy than a young man who’s cool today and maybe gone tomorrow.”

Continue Reading Dana White & Jon Jones Share Contradictory Answers On If Aspinall Fight Will Happen After UFC 309 at MMA News.

Stipe Miocic on Facing Jon Jones Over Aspinall: ‘It Wasn’t My Choice” for UFC 309

Stipe Miocic on Facing Jon Jones Over Aspinall: 'It Wasn't My Choice" for UFC 309Nearly three years removed from his last appearance inside the Octagon, Stipe Miocic returns on Saturday, November 16 for…

Stipe Miocic on Facing Jon Jones Over Aspinall: 'It Wasn't My Choice" for UFC 309

Nearly three years removed from his last appearance inside the Octagon, Stipe Miocic returns on Saturday, November 16 for a high-stakes heavyweight showdown with undisputed titleholder Jon Jones.

The last time fight fans saw the consensus heavyweight GOAT compete, he suffered a nasty second-round knockout loss against Francis Ngannou. Now, the Cleveland native is back and ready to retake the heavyweight crown when he meets ‘Bones’ in the UFC 309 headliner in Madison Square Garden.

Stipe Miocic

Much scrutiny has surrounded Miocic’s upcoming clash against Jones, much of it surrounding interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall who has been left by the wayside while the UFC continues to push Jones vs. Miocic.

After ‘Bones’ bowed out of his originally scheduled scrap with the two-time titleholder last November, an interim title was introduced at UFC 295 between Aspinall and Russian knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich. Aspinall won the bout via a 69-second KO and has since defended the interim belt against Curtis Blaydes while waiting for ‘Bones’ to recover and settle his business with Miocic before a potential unification clash.

Stipe Miocic

However, Miocic himself was the subject of some criticism after he chose to stand aside and let Aspinall fight Pavlovich instead of accepting the Brit as a replacement opponent for his scrapped scrap with Jones. Miocic has also been healthy this entire year, meaning he could have stepped up and fought Aspinall for the interim title instead.

Responding to some of that criticism during an interview with MMA Fighting, Miocic passed the buck to the UFC.

”It wasn’t my choice. It’s a fight I wanted, and the UFC gave it to me. They didn’t have to. They gave it to me” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Miocic did acknowledge that Aspinall is who the people want to see right now.

”[Tom Aspinall is] tough,” Miocic added. “He hits hard. Big boy. It’s what people want, he knocks people out.”

Stipe Miocic is confident in his game plan for jon jones

Regardless of the backlash, Stipe Miocic is looking forward to his return to MSG and is confident that he and his team have devised a game plan that will make him the UFC’s first-ever three-time heavyweight champion.

”We always come with a great game plan. They improvise and make everything right. As long as I go to the game plan, listen [to my coaches], we’ll be good… I think he’s [Jones] just good at what he does. He’s an artist! He knows how to mix it up. He knows how to keep a guy guessing him, you know? That’s why he’s done so well.”

Overall, Stipe Miocic is 20-4 in his mixed martial arts career with 14 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Miocic has held the heavyweight title on two separate occasions and defended it four times — more than any other heavyweight titleholder in UFC history.

Stipe Miocic