Stipe Miocic will get his shot to the heavyweight belt against Jon Jones while Interim titlist Tom Aspinall shall wait for his turn at the gold, per UFC CEO Dana White.
In a real scenario, Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has earned his right to unify the strap against heavyweight champion Jon Jones, However, citing the legacy of the super fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, Dana White has put Aspinall’s title shot on a halt.
Stipe Miocic is considered the greatest heavyweight champion of UFC, while Jon Jones is considered the greatest MMA fighter in the promotion by several experts. Hence, the matchup between them has become a ‘must’ for the UFC CEO.
That said, Stipe Miocic isn’t planning to retire after the fight against Jon Jones. On the contrary, he seems confident about winning and then aiming at the Brit- Tom Aspinall.
Turning to social media, Miocic wrote, “I have never caused a delay in the Jon fight. Tom, once I get this win, let’s talk to unify the belt.”
I have never caused a delay in the Jon fight.⁰⁰Tom, once I get this win, let’s talk to unify the belt.
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) January 5, 2024
Meanwhile, Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic is still unofficial and has no date onboard. Jones suffered from an injury during his training a few months back and is yet to recover completely. Only after his complete recovery, we can expect the title fight to be onboard. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall shall wait for his shot or remain active by risking his Interim champion status.
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If Not Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic, Who Should an ‘Upset’ Tom Aspinall Fight Next?
Just below Tom Aspinall, is the number two ranked heavyweight- Ciryl Gane. The French martial artist can be a good matchup for Aspinall. A former title contender, Gane lost his ticket to gold against Jon Jones. A win over current Interim champion Aspinall shall enable him for another UFC title fight.
Meanwhile, fifth-ranked Curtis Blaydes can also be a viable opponent for Tom Aspinall. Blaydes is the only fighter to have beaten Aspinall in the UFC. Avenging that defeat would secure Aspinall’s spot even more in the promotion.
While Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic is already in the works, Tom Aspinall can choose to remain active and hone his skills before the first UFC title shot.