Tom Aspinall made it clear throughout his lengthy layoff that his objective was all the time changing into undisputed UFC heavyweight champion whether or not or not that led him to a battle towards Jon Jones.
Following Jones’ retirement — that apparently lasted all of two weeks — Aspinall traveled to Las Vegas the place he spoke to UFC officers about what comes subsequent for him. He admits trying down the roster on the record of potential opponents that Jones was clearly the largest and most vital battle out there to him however he expects issues within the division to start out shaking up once more together with his plans to stay a really lively champion.
“The heavyweight division’s not precisely on fireplace in the meanwhile,” Aspinall advised Adam Catterall after returning house to England. “From a reputation perspective. I feel the expertise’s there. However if you happen to look 5 plus years in the past, simply the identify worth within the high 15 was unimaginable. We’re speaking guys like Fabricio Werdum, Cain Velasquez, [Junior dos Santos], Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar, and so forth, and so forth. Stipe [Miocic], the record goes on and on. You look by means of the highest 15 and it’s like wow, that’s unimaginable. The place as now, even me who’s a heavyweight, I look by means of the highest 15 and I’m like I’ve probably not seen [these guys] battle earlier than.
“I feel over the following few years that’s going to vary. I feel there’s going to be extra massive fights at heavyweight. Individuals are going to grow to be greater names, which is nice. We simply want extra up and coming heavyweights doing a bit within the high 15.”
The excellent news is Aspinall expects that he’ll return to motion prior to later now that the UFC has provided him a battle that he already accepted.
“I now have a battle, which is able to get introduced, sadly that’s not my job,” Aspinall revealed. “However no less than we’ve bought a date, we’ve bought an opponent to work in direction of. The whole lot’s good. Very proud of that. I can lastly get my profession going once more.”
Given the UFC calendar for the remainder of 2025, Aspinall is probably going taking a look at a return to motion in October, November or December relying on the place the promotion slots him in. The October pay-per-view is ready for Abu Dhabi with the UFC anticipated to journey to New York for an occasion at Madison Sq. Backyard in November.
The ultimate massive present occurs in December with all indicators pointing in direction of a homecoming in Las Vegas because the UFC closes out the 12 months.
Aspinall didn’t point out any dates, areas or opponents, though he did handle a few potential matchups with former interim champion Ciryl Gane seemingly sitting on the high of the record.
“We’ve been imagined to battle one another a few instances earlier than,” Aspinall mentioned about preventing Gane. “He’s a bit bit older and no less than he began his profession within the UFC a bit bit sooner than I did. So once I was in, it was all the time like I used to be attempting to battle him as a result of he was just a bit bit above me on a regular basis.
“Combat by no means materialized. He turned me down a few instances, to be trustworthy. I don’t assume he wished to battle down the rankings. I don’t know. I get it. I’m a nasty battle for everyone. It’s a dangerous battle for everyone. So I perceive why you wouldn’t wish to battle down the rankings as effectively however I’m certain that battle’s going to occur eventually.”
Aspinall additionally addressed Jailton Almeida, who has been fairly vocal in calling for a heavyweight title shot.
“I prefer it,” Aspinall mentioned in regards to the Brazilian. “I feel he’s good. Took a loss to [Curtis] Blaydes however he seems to be good. There’s not lots of good heavyweights round. He seems to be first rate.”
One other potential identify for the long run is Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov, who Aspinall defeated through armbar submission again in 2022. Since then, Volkov has gone 4-1 together with his solely loss coming in an in depth, considerably controversial cut up determination to Gane this previous December.
Whereas it doesn’t sound like Aspinall is dashing in direction of any rematches proper now, he positively sees Volkov as a future opponent sooner or later.
“I really thought [Volkov] received the Gane battle as effectively. To be trustworthy,” Aspinall mentioned. “Simply however I feel he received it. To be trustworthy, I knew how good Volkov was once I battle him. He’s actually good. He’s actually, actually good. I feel he has improved since then. I feel we in all probability will rematch sooner or later. I’d think about so. I wasn’t superb then compared to what I’m like now.
“So if we do rematch, that might be attention-grabbing. Don’t get me incorrect, there’s by no means any two fights which are the identical however I feel if you happen to examine now to evaluating me to a few or 4 years in the past, at any time when that battle was, you’ve bought to do not forget that was my first essential occasion as effectively. That was my first time preventing in entrance of a crowd as effectively. That was after the pandemic. Manner, approach totally different now than it was then. I feel that battle will occur once more, I’d think about. I feel Volkov’s going to maintain profitable. I feel that battle will occur sooner or later for certain.”
Irrespective of the opponent, Aspinall is simply excited to get again to work after a irritating 12 months off however he positively sees new challenges awaiting him now that he’s the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.
“There’s just a few guys I’ve not fought,” Aspinall mentioned. “I received’t point out any names as a result of they’ll simply reduce it up and put up it however the guys that I’ve not fought know who they’re and so they’re the fellows that I wish to battle.”
