Mar 22, 2025; London, England, United Kingdom; Tom Aspinall, UFC Heavyweight fighter, watches as Marcin Tybura (red gloves) fights against Mick Parkin (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

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Chael Sonnen Gives Massive Update For Upcoming Tom Aspinall Fight, And It Is Not Jon Jones!

UFC veteran Chael Sonnen reveals shocking information about Tom Aspinall's next fight!

The heavyweight division in UFC has always been a battlefield of giants. Fans have watched with bated breath as fighters like Stipe Miocic, Francis Ngannou, and more recently Jon Jones have dominated the scene. Since he captured the heavyweight crown in 2023, the division has been in a state of flux, with interim champion Tom Aspinall waiting in the wings for his shot at undisputed glory.

For months now, fans worldwide have been eagerly awaiting news about a potential unification bout between Aspinall and Jones. The matchup makes perfect sense on paper: the young, explosive Brit against the legendary American many consider the greatest of all time. UFC CEO Dana White himself had expressed interest in making this fight happen, and rumors of negotiations have been swirling for weeks. But now, former UFC fighter and respected analyst Chael Sonnen has dropped a bombshell that has sent shockwaves through the MMA community, and it is not the news fans were hoping for.

Also Read: Conor McGregor Teases Massive UFC Comeback News As Michael Chandler Responds!

Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane Next?

According to Chael Sonnen’s latest podcast revelation, Tom Aspinall will not be facing Jon Jones next as many had hoped. Instead, the interim champion is reportedly set to defend his interim belt against Ciryl Gane.

“I’m here to tell you, according to a remarkably good source, Jon Jones is going to be afforded the ability to wait 180 days which is equal to six months which is what he asked for. Tom Aspinall is going to fight with Ciryl Gane, which was in fact on the table many months ago.”

This news comes as a shock considering the momentum that seemed to be building toward an Aspinall-Jones showdown. Sonnen, who previously claimed the Jones fight was “agreed all the way down to the date,” has now completely changed his tune.

This potential matchup isn’t without history or intrigue. Aspinall and Gane have exchanged words in the past, with the Englishman accusing the Frenchman of ducking him. Now that Aspinall holds the interim belt, the power dynamic has shifted. Gane, a former interim champion himself had fought for gold against Jones in 2023 where he lost via first-round submission. The matchup presents significant risk, as a Gane victory could further complicate the already messy heavyweight picture.

The biggest question now remains: what about Jon Jones? Despite being the undisputed champion, Jones has only defended his title once since claiming it, defeating Stipe Miocic. He has a well-documented history of strategic negotiating. The possibility remains that this latest development could be part of a larger power play in the ongoing negotiations. Perhaps Jones is waiting for the right terms to agree to the Aspinall fight. Or maybe the UFC is keeping its options open.

(Image Credit: Peter van den Berg – Imagn Images)

Chael Sonnen

Ciryl Gane

Jon Jones

Tom Aspinall

Zaid Quraishi

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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!