Interim UFC Heavyweight title holder Tom Aspinall is about to grant his wish.
Tom Aspinall has waited almost two full years for a collision with Jon Jones for the Lineal UFC Heavyweight Championship. But after a marathon is waiting for Jones to sign the dotted line, it seems that the long saga reaches finality.
Aspinall made a rare interim title defense against Curtis Blaydes on UFC 304 in July. Since then he has paid his full -time attention to a potential collision with Jones, especially after the dominant victory of the last UFC 309 in November.
In recent months it has been a roller coaster for Aspinall, while he constantly waited for Jones and the UFC matchmakers would get a deal. Negotiations came to a point where the Aspinall vs. Jones -Fight in desperate Limbo seemed to be clear from UFC CBO Hunter Campbell during a recent meeting before Aspinall was clear.
Tom Aspinall appears at a press conference, deployment Jon Jones on UFC 309. Credits: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC, Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Tom Aspinall teases upcoming Jones Fight News
Just a few days after the labeling of Jones a 'strange guy', Aspinall seems to report great news, but it will not be after a recent promise to the UFC heads.
During a recent upload to his YouTube channel, Aspinall gave an encouraging update about his UFC return.
“I know everyone wants to fight news, but I know what is happening now,” said Aspinall.
“I am a bit sworn to secrecy, so keep an eye on it … but there will be news, hopefully very quickly.”
UFC CEO Dana White recently hinted that Jones vs. Aspinall is 'ready', but that the promotion works out the finer details regarding the matchup. The fight may flourish for the International Fight Week card of the UFC in June, especially after the rumor injury of Dricus du Plessis.
Jones recorded the then vacant heavyweight title by finishing Ciryl Gane on UFC 285. After a long interruption due to injury, Jones made his long-awaited first title defense on UFC 309 and ended Stipe Miocic with a late round TKO.
The former rival of Jon Jones encouraged him to 'walk away' by Tom Aspinall Clash
One of Jones' former light heavyweight rivals believes that the UFC Heavyweight Champion will make a big mistake in Aspinall later this year. Vitor Belfort encouraged Jones to 'walk away' and retire, the risk of avoiding the Aspinall fight.
Belfort almost handed Jones one of his lonely career stains, which disrupted the shoulder of Jones before the then light heavyweight champion stuck it back in place. Jones won the fight dominant.
Many believe that Aspinall will present the most difficult test of Jones' career, prior to his earlier collisions with Dominick Reyes and Alexander Gustafsson. Time will learn whether the greatest heavyweight battle of the UFC will become reality.