Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has declared himself the undisputed heavyweight titleholder and revealed plans for his return to the octagon. In a recent episode of the Good Guy / Bad Guy podcast, Aspinall stated, "Jon Jones retired. You guys don't follow Jon on social media?" This statement marks a significant moment in the heavyweight division as Aspinall looks to reinvigorate the competition.
Aspinall praised Jon Jones, saying, "The guy is living his best life. He's had a fantastic career. We know Jon's a religious man, so I want to say God bless him moving forward in what he does in his life and his career, and we move on." Aspinall’s confidence shines through as he asserts, "I'm the undisputed champion of the world." He expressed a strong desire to engage the heavyweight division, which he feels has been stagnant. “Those guys have been waiting around too long. The contenders are getting sick of it. Everybody is getting sick of it. Even the fans are getting sick of this stuff. Jon's retired, and it's time to move on.”
While Jon Jones has not officially confirmed his retirement, he has alluded to the possibility. Aspinall argues that once a fighter starts contemplating retirement, they are essentially retired. "If one guy is thinking about retiring, he's retired," Aspinall explained. Unlike Jones, Aspinall's focus is clear: "I ain't thinking about retiring. I'm thinking about getting this division active, making the heavyweight division great again." With many contenders waiting for over a year, Aspinall is determined to schedule exciting matchups. "I'm here to fight," he emphasized.
Aspinall is not actively seeking a fight against Jon Jones but is hungry for the chance to compete for the undisputed heavyweight championship, regardless of the opponent. He stated, "I'm not looking to fight Jon Jones. I'm looking to fight for that undisputed heavyweight champion. That's what I want to be." Aspinall’s ambition is clear: he aims to take on all challengers. "I'm not waiting for one fight. I'm not trying to fight one guy. I'm trying to be the guy at heavyweight that takes out everybody, and it doesn't matter who it is.”
The interim champion also hinted at exciting news for his next bout. "I'll tell you something, I've got a date and location. I've got a date and location," he teased, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his announcement. Aspinall's dedication to revitalizing the heavyweight landscape indicates that the UFC may witness a thrilling series of fights in the near future, as he fully embraces his role as a leader in the division.
