Nov 11, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Tom Aspinall (blue gloves) reacts to beating Sergei Pavlovich (red gloves) during UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

mma

“What Am I Supposed To Do?” -Tom Aspinall Voices Frustration as Jon Jones Fight Remains In Limbo

Tom Aspinall beleives Jon Jones has not given him a way to achieve what he has achieved by refusing to fight him!

Nov 11, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Tom Aspinall (blue gloves) reacts to beating Sergei Pavlovich (red gloves) during UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

In UFC and in general life, few things sting like being left on read. Just ask Tom Aspinall. The interim heavyweight champion has been waiting by his proverbial phone, hoping for that career-defining call about Jon Jones. But the silence from Jones’ camp has been deafening.

Aspinall’s journey to the top wasn’t easy. He climbed the UFC heavyweight ranks with devastating knockouts and impressive submissions. His technical skills and athleticism made him stand out in a division often known for plodding big men. After recovering from a serious knee injury in 2022, he bounced back stronger than ever. The November of 2023, he claimed the interim heavyweight belt with a first-round knockout over Sergei Pavlovich. Since then, he has been in championship purgatory.

Also Read: UFC Vegas 106 Result: Michael Morales Dispatches Gilbert Burns Early, Keeps His Undefeated Record

Tom Aspinall Shares His Frustration About Jon Jones

Aspinall recently revealed that he was getting flustered with the indecision from Jon Jones and his camp. Talking to Fox News, the interim heavyweight champion gave his side of how things are.

“He [Jon Jones] wants me to fight more champions bro. You are the champion and you won’t fight me. What am I supposed to do?”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MMA PACK (@mmapack)

The British fighter isn’t laughing about his situation. His frustration grows with each passing week. He is ready for the biggest fight of his career, but Jones seems to have other plans. He is currently filming the Russian version of the TUF in Thailand. With main event fights booked upto UFC 319, Aspinall is getting anxious. His prime years are being wasted waiting for Jones, who, it seems does not care about the fight at all.

The heavyweight division suffers while this drama unfolds. Other contenders like Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov remain in holding patterns. They can’t challenge for Aspinall’s interim title while he awaits Jones. The entire division has essentially ground to a halt. Some fans suspect Jones is deliberately avoiding Aspinall. The interim champ’s combination of size, speed, and wrestling presents unique challenges. At 31, Aspinall represents the new generation of heavyweight talent.

UFC history has seen this before. The interim title often proves more curse than blessing. For now, Aspinall continues his training in Manchester. He recently stated that he was ready to take a fight if Jones was not willing to fight him. The UK native stays ready for a call that may never come. The fans clamor for clarity. The division needs direction. And Tom Aspinall just wants to know what’s next. Is that really too much to ask?

(Image Credit: Wendell Cruz – Imagn Images)

Jon Jones

Tom Aspinall

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!