Tom Aspinall is simply trying up and forward because the second half of 2025 approaches.
No, MMA’s true No. 1 heavyweight nonetheless doesn’t have his first combat of the yr booked, however the gears seem like in movement for Aspinall to schedule an opponent quickly. Whether or not it’s UFC champion Jon Jones or one other heavyweight contender, Aspinall is keen to return to competitors and it appears like he’ll accomplish that with UFC CEO Dana White endorsing him.
Following UFC 316 this previous Saturday, White was requested concerning the ongoing Jones-Aspinall state of affairs and whereas he hasn’t stored up with all the drama, he made it clear that Aspinall is “the man” and that he nonetheless needs to make a heavyweight championship unification bout occur.
Aspinall is pleased to listen to he has the boss in his nook.
“I believe lots of people come out they usually see what I’ve stated they usually assume it’s some sort of media stuff,” Aspinall stated on his YouTube channel. “Pay attention, I don’t try this sort of stuff. If I’m going to come back out and say one thing, it’s going to be told info.
“As I’ve stated a few occasions, not for me to say. That’s past my pay grade, I don’t announce no fights, I don’t announce no UFC information or nothing like that. However there’s some coming, there’s positively some coming. Dana White says I’m his man, we love that. And I’m going to go and show that fairly quickly, so it’s coming.”
Jones lately went on a prolonged Twitter spree through which he continued to dismiss Aspinall, the UFC’s interim heavyweight titleholder, as a challenger, and later addressed a rumor that former UFC champion Francis Ngannou could be open to a return to the promotion beneath the precise circumstances. Jones wrote {that a} bout with Ngannou is “an actual superfight” and “a conflict of champions, not simply hype.”
White shut the door on Ngannou returning, however that didn’t cease Aspinall from questioning how he’d match up with the PFL star, who departed the UFC with gold nonetheless round his waist.
“I’ve stated loads occasions the day that I begin ducking out of fights and turning opponents down and begin turning opponents down and stuff like that’s the day that I’m going to retire,” Aspinall stated. “As I’ve at all times stated, and you’ll ask any promoter that I’ve ever labored with, any guys on the UFC, I’ll combat anybody, I’ll combat anytime, and I’ll combat wherever. By no means turned down a combat in my life. By no means will.
“The day that I begin fascinated by turning down fights is the day that I’ll retire, so to reply the query, whoever they need me to combat is who I’m going to combat.”
Amputation? Kayla Harrison would have allow them to minimize off her leg to make weight for her UFC 316 title combat.
Future. Amanda Nunes couldn’t keep at American Prime Crew understanding a bout with Harrison was of their future.
Remix. Patchy Combine releases an announcement following a disappointing UFC debut.
Prayers. Your entire MMA neighborhood is hoping for Ben Askren to get well as he offers with a extreme well being situation.
Gossip. Dana White says every little thing is ok with Turki Alalshikh forward of the TKO Boxing launch.
UFC 316 Submit-Combat Present.
UFC 316 post-fight media scrums.
Re-live UFC 316 with the MMA Preventing crew.
Max Reax.
Extra reax.
Mark Kerr, Corridor of Fame.
On to the Subsequent One. The following matchups for UFC 316 title combat winners Merab Dvalishvili and Kayla Harrison are apparent, however what’s to be achieved with the favored Sean O’Malley now? And the way lengthy will or not it’s earlier than we see Julianna Peña once more? Mike Heck and Alexander Ok. Lee talk about all that plus future fights for Saturday’s large winners.
Whoa.
Preach, Double D!
Congratulations @KaylaH !! With @UFC belt you now get the credit score you will have lengthy deserved !!
4 years in the past I crusaded media to respect your dominance . . . Perhaps NOW extra media will acknowledge and canopy the GREAT MMA fighters not a part of the UFC advertising and marketing machine. #PFLMMA https://t.co/QHzmVnWQD2
— Donn Davis (@DonnDavisPFL) June 8, 2025
Nominative determinism.
Put me again in, coach.
Georgia symbolize.
Nonetheless wish to see these two combat once more sometime.
That is what occurs while you’re handed belongings you didn’t earn. Again in line, buddy @SugaSeanMMA
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) June 8, 2025
Chase Hooper (16-3-1) vs. Alexander Hernandez (16-8); UFC 319, Aug. 16
Patricky Pitbull (25-14) vs. Shunta Nomura (9-2); Tremendous RIZIN 4, July 27
Naoki Inoue (19-4) vs. Ryuya Fukuda (25-8-1); Tremendous RIZIN 4, July 27
Seika Izawa (15-0) vs. Yu Jin Shin (3-0, 1 NC); Tremendous RIZIN 4, July 27
Kleber Koike (34-8-1, 1 NC) vs. Mikuru Asakura (18-5, 1 NC); Tremendous RIZIN 4, July 27
Masanori Kanehara (29-13-5) vs. Ya-Man (2-2); Tremendous RIZIN 4, July 27
Karshyga Dautbek (18-3) vs. Kyoma Akimoto (8-1); Tremendous RIZIN 4, July 27
Moeri Suda (13-6) vs. Noel (2-1); Tremendous RIZIN 4, July 27
Bantamweights! They’re implausible! And sure, not like normal, we’re speaking about each the lads’s and ladies’s sides of the UFC roster.
The highest two fights if UFC 316 delivered in a giant approach, giving us one other assertion efficiency from Merab Dvalishvili and a brand new champion in Kayla Harrison, and Harrison already has a dream combat lined up with the GOAT Amanda Nunes. Good occasions throughout.
Talking of GOATs, it needs to be requested once more: Is Dvalishvili the very best ever to compete at 135 kilos?
Ballot
Is Merab Dvalishvili the GOAT bantamweight?
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