Modestas Bukauskas returns to motion on Saturday at UFC 315 when he faces Ion Cutelaba and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall performed an enormous half in his preparation regardless of having no battle of his personal booked at any time within the close to future.
Whereas Bukauskas and the remainder of the fighters on the fitness center are preparing for upcoming bouts, Aspinall remains to be taking part in the ready recreation with hopes that he’ll ultimately get the prospect to unify the UFC heavyweight title with Jon Jones. Sadly, there’s nonetheless no phrase on when or if that battle is definitely going to occur however Bukauskas praises Aspinall for all the time being there for him and the remainder of the crew every time they want him.
“For him, I simply need him to get this battle,” Bukauskas informed MMA Combating. “There simply appears to be a lot stalling and negotiating and stuff like that’s happening. Tom truthfully simply needs to battle. He overtly says he’ll battle anybody. Clearly, the subsequent logical step is Jon Jones however he says ‘on the finish of the day, what would you like me to do?’ Clearly, it’s irritating for him. I can think about it’s very annoying however on the similar time, he can solely management what he can management. That’s what he’s doing.
“He’s within the fitness center on a regular basis. He’s serving to guys like me and different guys which have fights developing. Simply completely superb. James Webb from our crew simply defended his Cage Warriors belt.”
Aspinall is approaching one 12 months since his final look within the UFC when he defended his interim title with a blistering one-minute knockout win over Curtis Blaydes this previous July. Simply 4 months later, Jones defended his heavyweight title with a lopsided knockout win over Stipe Miocic however the UFC nonetheless hasn’t struck a deal to carry the 2 fighters collectively for a unification bout.
With {the summertime} UFC playing cards quickly filling up, it seems increasingly more doubtless that Aspinall might need to attend till the autumn to get his probability to face Jones.
“He’s nonetheless coaching each single day however I can perceive from his viewpoint, very irritating as a result of if you’re coaching so onerous and also you’re placing in all this work, you need to have the ability to placed on exhibits,” Bukauskas mentioned about Aspinall. “I simply actually hope that all of it works out and he’ll have the ability to battle quickly.
“As a result of I do know he’s itching to go, particularly when he’s just about in his prime, in his peak. He needs to go on the market and compete and sometimes the query is, what’s the maintain up?”
As a veteran of the sunshine heavyweight division, Bukauskas as soon as noticed Jones as his final objective as properly.
Jones is the longest reigning 205-pound champion in UFC historical past however now he’s devoted himself to competing at heavyweight the place he at present sports activities a 2-0 document.
Whereas he completely respects the resume that Jones has put collectively throughout his profession, Bukauskas warns him that he’s going to face a completely completely different sort of animal if he lastly will get in there with Aspinall.
“I imply hear, Tom is not like something that I’ve ever skilled with, that I’ve ever sparred with and I do know for a reality it’s not like something Jon Jones has ever fought,” Bukauskas mentioned. “After I take into consideration Tom, I take into consideration his pace, his athleticism, his battle IQ. It’s like all the very best fighters on this planet, they’re considering of stuff on the go as they’re reacting and making little changes and people little changes are what provides them the ending blow. His battle IQ is insane. He’s clearly mad quick and he’s extraordinarily explosive and athletic. These are all issues which can be in his favor.
“Jon Jones, extraordinarily technical, he’s received superb wrestling, nice placing, good jiu-jitsu, coaching with some actually robust guys as properly. I take nothing away from him however I simply really feel like Tom’s received these attributes as properly and he’s received youth on his facet. I believe he’s received an athleticism prowess that he can use in lots of areas towards Jones in that battle. I believe lots of people can be shocked. I believe Tom is only a completely different sort of athlete, which is why I need them to battle. I need Tom to have the ability to present the folks how good he’s.”
Regardless of the delays and lack of understanding about when he would possibly battle once more, Aspinall continues coaching and making ready for the day he’ll lastly get to settle issues with Jones within the octagon.
Bukauskas has nothing however the highest reward for Aspinall as a teammate but additionally as a result of he’s main by instance together with his dedication to indicate up each single day even when his personal battle profession is caught in limbo proper now.
“You may just about say Tom is the crew captain alongside together with his dad,” Bukauskas mentioned. “Simply to have the ability to get little pointers right here and there and see his mindset going into fights and the way in which that he really trains and the way in which he presents himself in sparring, it’s all superb issues that I can study from. It’s undoubtedly made me a greater fighter being up there with him.”
