Joe Rogan thinks the UFC Heavyweight Division is ruled by a special athlete in Tom Aspinall.
The undisputed heavyweight throne is under new property after confirmation that Jon Jones has withdrawn from MMA to close an illustrious career in the UFC Octagon.
Jones was not “undisputed” for 19 months, after Aspinall's knockout of Sergei Pavlovich had made him the interim title holder at the end of 2023.
The division got stuck and according to many the belt was 'held hostage', after Jones refused to fight against Aspinall. But after months of debate and frustration, that heavyweight Titelsaga is no longer.
Aspinall is officially the UFC heavyweight champion, and based on a few comments from the past, Rogan would not be surprised to see a dominant government.
Joe Rogan noticed Tom Aspinall 'considerably faster' than Francis Ngannou
During an episode of his Joe Rogan Experience Podcast with Derek from more plates More dates at the end of 2024, the old UFC color commentator spoke about the rise of Aspinall.
After seeing the English hunter through Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes running on his way to winning UFC Gold, Rogan courageously suggested that there was never a faster heavyweight.
And that speed and agility would be a “considerable” advantage for Aspinall compared to the hard Francis Ngannou, Rogan said.
“You want to talk about a man who is fast, he is one of the fastest heavyweights – he is perhaps the fastest heavyweight in the history of sport,” said Rogan. “I don't think someone is moving like that guy.
“I have seen many heavyweights. Even Francis, who is the biggest, scariest power striker I have ever seen in the heavyweight division … Francis does not move like Tom Aspinall.
“Tom Aspinall is considerably faster than any other heavyweight,” Rogan added. “That is a real problem. With a frame of 250 plus pounds, his movement is extraordinary.
“The way he moves is so different from everyone else in sport. He moves like a 175-ponder.”
Dana White does not imagine that a Francis Ngannou UFC returns to combat Tom Aspinall
With the long desired Jones vs. Ngannou fight that is set to stay in the empire of fantasy, you are talking about a return to the UFC for the Cameroonian now a confrontation with Aspinall.
Although bridges must certainly be restored and a contractual agreement with the PFL to pass, strange things have happened in MMA.
However, White no longer sees Ngannou on UFC gloves.
“One thing that I have learned about Francis over the years does not always mean what he says publicly. Behind the scenes are different from what he says publicly,” White said during his press conference at UFC Baku.
“I am not a big fan, I would be shocked if Francis ever came back here, at many different levels. I am not a fan and he does not always mean what he says publicly.”
Ngannou quickly shot back on White on X by asking when he even returns to the UFC.
“Did I say I'll come back someday?”
Did I say I will ever come back? 🤔
– Francis Ngannou (@francis_Ngannou) 22 June 2025
View tweet
Talking about a comeback from Ngannou was fueled by coach Eric Nicksick, whose own wish to see 'the predator' to the UFC was confused by many with a proclamation that it could actually be on the cards.