Tom Aspinall’s ultimate aspiration is to seize the UFC heavyweight championship. Having the opportunity to face Jon Jones in the process is merely an exciting detour.
Aspinall returned victoriously to the UFC London octagon last Saturday, mercilessly taking down Marcin Tybura in a little over a minute via TKO. Post his win, Aspinall signaled his intent to fight the winner of the upcoming UFC Paris bout between Ciryl Gane and Serghei Spivac. He confidently stated his plans to defeat the winner and then aim to inflict Jones with his first genuine defeat.
“I feel I’m a good match for Jones,” Aspinall articulated during the UFC London post-fight press conference. “Fighting him is a dream, and I believe I have the edge being young and invigorated. I’ve not been overly taxed in my career, and I’m physically imposing. I’m agile, powerful, and weighty — a different breed than most of Jones’s previous competitors.
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“I believe I pose a different challenge for Jones, and I believe he understands that too — if he doesn’t, he will soon.”
News of Aspinall’s post-fight words swiftly reached Jones.
Shortly after Aspinall disclosed his strategy to defeat Jones post the Gane vs. Spivac bout, Jones, the incumbent UFC heavyweight champion, simply tweeted in response: “Sounds good.”
“Jon Jones recognizes me, hooray! That in itself is a victory,” a thrilled Aspinall reacted. “It’s exhilarating. My ultimate goal is to win my future fights, but another aspiration is to provoke Jon Jones into accepting a fight with me. That’s my dream… Imagine a lad from Atherton fighting Jon Jones? That would be mind-blowing.”
A year ago, Aspinall faced Curtis Blaydes in the same arena as Saturday’s event. The match ended abruptly in just 15 seconds due to Aspinall’s severe knee injury. He endured a challenging recovery, but Aspinall strangely calls the injury “the best thing that could’ve happened,” especially considering his current fitness.
In the future, Aspinall wishes to challenge the Gane vs. Spivac winner at the same event where Jones defends his title against Stipe Miocic — UFC 295, scheduled for Nov. 11 at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden. Having defeated Spivac in less than a round in September 2021, Aspinall feels optimistic about his prospects if he faces Gane next.
“I believe I’m a solid contender against Gane,” said Aspinall. “I’m as swift, as agile. The difference is, I’m a powerful grappler, which is hard to refute at this point in my career.”
While grabbing Jones’ attention through his victory and post-fight declaration is an excellent first move, Aspinall’s primary desire remains to claim the UFC heavyweight belt — irrespective of whether it comes from the person considered by many as the greatest of all time.
“Jon Jones isn’t my target,” Aspinall clarified. “Though I’d relish the chance, my goal is to become the heavyweight champion. That’s my current life objective. But a match against Jon Jones would be a bonus. If he retired, I’d be disappointed, of course, but it wouldn’t faze me. I’d willingly fight the next title-holder, no issues there.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Tom Aspinall
Who did Tom Aspinall recently defeat in UFC London?
Tom Aspinall recently defeated Marcin Tybura in UFC London.
What are Aspinall’s future plans after his recent victory?
Aspinall plans to face the winner of the UFC Paris match between Ciryl Gane and Serghei Spivac. He also voiced his intention to fight Jon Jones.
What was Jon Jones’ response to Aspinall’s challenge?
Jon Jones responded to Aspinall’s post-fight challenge with a simple tweet: “Sounds good.”
How does Aspinall feel about fighting Jon Jones?
Aspinall has expressed that fighting Jon Jones would be a dream come true. He feels confident and believes he matches up well against Jones, offering a unique challenge.
Did Aspinall previously suffer a serious injury?
Yes, a year ago Aspinall faced Curtis Blaydes in a match that ended abruptly due to Aspinall’s severe knee injury. He has since recovered and feels stronger than ever.
What is Aspinall’s primary goal in his UFC career?
Aspinall’s primary goal is to become the UFC heavyweight champion. However, he stated that a fight against Jon Jones would be an extra bonus.
More about Tom Aspinall
- Tom Aspinall’s UFC Profile
- Jon Jones’ UFC Profile
- UFC Heavyweight Rankings
- UFC Fight Results and History
- Previous Fight: Tom Aspinall vs. Marcin Tybura
- Upcoming Fight: Ciryl Gane vs. Serghei Spivac
- About UFC
8 comments
I’d love to see him against Jones, but lets see if he can beat the winner of Gane and Spivac first.
Toms got his work cut out for him, but i think he’s got a shot. go get em tiger!
Tom’s a beast!! Jones better watch out, Aspinall’s comin for that belt.
Tom’s grappling skills are impressive. but, Jones is a whole different level, not gonna be easy.
remember how he smashed Tybura? No doubt he’ll do the same to Jones!
wow..Aspinall vs Jones?? that would be an epic fight!
cant wait to see who wins Gane vs Spivac. aspinall vs gane would be a hell of a fight!
anyone else thinking this is too soon? Jones is a legend, Aspinall should gain more experience first.