According to Dana White, Tom Aspinall is eager to get back into the octagon and will most likely defend the interim heavyweight strap before undisputed champion Jon Jones returns.
Earlier today, combat sports journalist Chisanga Malata took to X (formerly Twitter), to and wrote:
“Dana White has seemingly confirmed Tom Aspinall will defend his interim HW title as the UFC still hopes to do Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic this summer.”
He then went on to add a quote from Dana White himself, which read:
“He’s raring and ready to go. He’ll fight before that fight [Jones vs. Stipe]; he’ll fight either one of those guys in that fight. He doesn’t care. He’s ready to go and ready to prove he’s the best heavyweight in the world. [h/t @Sportsnet]”
Earlier in 2023, the 30-year-old became the third British champion in UFC history when he knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in the first round at UFC 295 to claim interim gold.
Tom Aspinall recently teased a possible fight against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at UFC 300. Although ‘Poatan’ has welcomed the challenge, he has brushed off the possibility of the fight happening in the immediate future.
Jon Jones was originally scheduled to headline UFC 295 against Stipe Miocic. However, a shoulder injury he sustained during training forced him to withdraw from the event.
Jon Jones is still nursing the injury. While he is yet to give a date for his comeback, he is expected to return to active competition sometime in mid-2024.