Just a handful of fights into his UFC career, Tom Aspinall has cemented himself as the heavyweight GOAT, according to renowned MMA coach Firas Zahabi.
Firas Zahabi, former coach of UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre, believes Tom Aspinall has surpassed Stipe Miocic as the greatest UFC heavyweight of all time.
Aspinall is expected to face Jon Jones in a fight for the heavyweight title next year. The British superstar was cageside as Jones delivered one of the most dominant performances of his career to finish Miocic in round 3 at UFC 309.
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Aspinall, who starred as a backup for UFC 309, is the favorite to face Jones if the UFC can lure the heavyweight champion back to the Octagon for another fight. After weeks of teased retirements, Jones pivoted to that stance in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, though he did not mention Aspinall by name.
Aspinall captured the interim heavyweight title last year by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. Jones was initially scheduled to face Miocic in the headliner before withdrawing due to injury.
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping and others have touted Aspinall as potentially the next big thing in heavyweight. While Aspinall's accolades have already made him highly regarded, Zahabi went one step further and crowned him the heavyweight king of all time.
Firas Zahabi declares Tom Aspinall as the current heavyweight GOAT
In a recent analysis on Tristar Gym's YouTube channel, coach Zahabi made a bold claim about Aspinall even before he faced Jones in the Octagon.
“I think he could be the guy to beat Jon Jones and finish him,” Zahabi said of Aspinall. “I don't think anyone can last more than two laps with Aspinall. No one in the world. Now, pound for pound? That would be a different story. But the fact that he's the biggest and strongest man in the world at heavyweight, I don't think anyone can beat him.
“A lot of people say Stipe Miocic is the greatest heavyweight of all time, no, that's not true!” Zahab continued. “He was the greatest heavyweight of all time, then Francis Ngannou dethroned him and Ngannou turned out to be the greatest heavyweight of all time. In my mind, unofficially of course, it's Tom Aspinall, the greatest heavyweight of all time… very possible [Jones] have his lights turned off.
Jones' only loss came by disqualification against Matt Hamill (illegal elbows) in 2009. The fight could potentially be overturned to a no-contest following a recent change in MMA's uniform rules.
The closest Jones has come to a career finish was against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165. All eight of Aspinall's UFC victories have come within two rounds, including early victories over Andrei Arlovski and Alexander Volkov.
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The fight negotiations between Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones are a hot topic heading into 2025
Aspinall remains confident the UFC will close the deal and make the elusive Jones fight happen in 2025. But Jones has consistently belittled Aspinall in recent weeks, hinting at a super-fight with Alex Pereira as his desired return booking.
Aspinall's lone UFC loss came against Blaydes via injury stoppage in 2022. He has since avenged the loss to Blaydes, knocking out Marcin Tybura and Pavlovich.
Jones vs. Aspinall is at the top of many UFC fans' fight wish lists as 2025 approaches. A win over Aspinall would add to Jones' all-time GOAT case, while Aspinall has the chance to make history by dethroning Jones.
At 31, Aspinall has already done enough to make himself the heavyweight GOAT, according to Zahabi. Time will tell whether Aspinall universally deserves Zahabi's sensational praise.
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