Paddy Pimblett would lean in the direction of Jon Jones to beat Tom Aspinall in a possible UFC heavyweight championship unification bout, but when the interim champ grew to become the primary to cease Jones within the octagon, he wouldn’t be shocked.
“I like Aspinall, me lad, he’s my mate and that, however I can by no means choose towards Jon Jones as a result of we’ve by no means seen him get beat,” Pimblett stated at a UFC Fan Q&A occasion in Liverpool, England. “I believe now, if anybody’s going to beat him, it’s Aspinall.
“Aspinall may simply knock him out and are available out along with his arms and knock him clear out. However I’ve by no means picked towards Jon Jones.”
Regardless of UFC CEO Dana White guaranteeing, on a number of events, that the UFC would put a struggle between Jones and Aspinall collectively, there may be nothing at present on the books. Fan sentiment seems to be leaning in the direction of the struggle not taking place, and hoping the UFC will simply ebook Aspinall to compete because the undisputed champion to maintain some of the thrilling large males to compete within the UFC off of the sidelines and staying lively.
Aspinall is already the longest reigning interim champion in UFC historical past, and hasn’t competed since destroying Curtis Blaydes in 60 seconds at UFC 304 this previous July. Jones captured the heavyweight title at UFC 285 in March 2023 and has solely competed as soon as since then — defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 this previous November in a struggle Aspinall watched within the crowd regardless of being interim champ for a yr at the moment.
“The Baddy” is making his personal stand up within the UFC, and doing so within the promotion’s hardest division at light-weight. Pimblett lately picked up his seventh UFC win at UFC 314 in April the place he mauled and completed Michael Chandler within the third spherical of the extremely anticipated co-main occasion.
Whereas Pimblett’s expertise and fixed evolution have led him to latest success, Pimblett being a scholar of the sport has definitely helped along with his progress — which incorporates 15-plus years of watching Jones compete.
“I’ve been watching Jon Jones since he grew to become champ once I was a child, know what I imply? Since I began watching the UFC in like 2009, 2010, I’ve been watching Jon Jones since then, even earlier than he gained the belt. I can bear in mind watching the struggle dwell when he bought disqualified for the 12-to-6 elbows. That’s how lengthy I’ve been watching Jon Jones.
“It’s simply the way in which he sport plans. He finds a technique to beat somebody, and he works on that precise factor on the way to beat them. If anybody’s going to beat him, it’s Aspinall.”
