Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall appears ready to move past the prolonged focus on a potential fight with Jon Jones. Aspinall has been waiting for nearly 600 days for his opportunity to unify the belt and solidify his claim as the world`s best heavyweight.
The possibility of a title unification bout against Jon Jones remains uncertain. Jones has offered vague responses when asked about fighting Aspinall, indicating he`s waiting for an official announcement from the UFC. Aspinall, however, has publicly declared himself the undisputed champion, suggesting he believes `Bones` is effectively retired.
As the wait for clarity on Jones vs. Aspinall continues, some fans have drawn parallels between Aspinall`s situation and Michael Chandler`s lengthy, ultimately unfulfilled wait for a fight with Conor McGregor.
Aspinall Dismisses Chandler Comparison: `I`m Not Waiting for One Fight`
UFC Lightweight Michael Chandler famously waited two years for a fight against Conor McGregor, which was scheduled for UFC 303 but later canceled due to McGregor`s injury. Even a year after the initial plan, Chandler still seems primarily focused on that single opponent.
Addressing the comparisons, Aspinall was clear that his approach is different. He stated, “I see a lot of people comparing me to Michael Chandler… Michael Chandler waited for a long time for Conor McGregor and stuff like that. I`m not waiting for one fight. I`m not trying to fight one guy.”
Aspinall clarified his ambition: “I`m trying to fight all the guys… I`m trying to be the guy at heavyweight who takes out everybody, and it doesn`t matter who it is… I wanna fight everybody, and I wanna fight as much as possible, get some excitement back in this division.” He emphasized that his primary goal is competing for the undisputed heavyweight title, not fixating solely on Jones.
Meanwhile, the UFC has not yet announced any official plans for the heavyweight division`s future or Jon Jones`s next steps.
Amidst this ongoing uncertainty, fans have taken their own initiative. A petition on Change.org calling for Jon Jones to be stripped of his heavyweight title has gained significant momentum. The petition, which Aspinall has publicly supported, recently surged past 179,000 signatures, nearing the 200,000 milestone.
The MMA world now awaits the UFC`s decision regarding Jones and Aspinall, and it remains to be seen if the growing support for the petition will influence the outcome.
Jack Thornley