Jon Jones And Tom Aspinall Set To Break Separate Major Heavyweight Records!

Despite not fighting, champion Jon Jones and Interim champion Tom Aspinall set to break records in the division soon!

Jon Jones And Tom Aspinall Set To Break Separate Major Heavyweight Records!

The UFC heavyweight division has been a rollercoaster of excitement and power. Now, in 2025, fans are witnessing a unique situation where two men holding different versions of the same championship are racing toward statistical immortality, although on separate tracks.This peculiar scenario involves Jon Jones, widely considered the greatest fighter of all time, and Tom Aspinall, the British phenom who exploded onto the heavyweight scene with devastating finishes.

Their paths haven’t crossed in the octagon yet, but both are etching their names in the record books. The circumstances have kept them apart, for now. What makes this situation even more fascinating is how these two very different fighters. Jones with his calculating precision and Aspinall with his explosive power are approaching similar milestones through completely different journeys.

Also Read: Dana White and Tom Aspinall Tease Potential Fight Announcement Coming Soon!

Jon Jones: The Undisputed King Making History

Jon ‘Bones’ Jones captured the vacant heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane in March 2023. By doing this, he added another belt to his legendary resume after dominating the light heavyweight division for years. Now at 750 days into his heavyweight reign, Jones is closing in on Cain Velasquez’s record of 896 days as champion.

The controversial legend has defended his title just once, against Stipe Miocic in November 2023. But, he remains the undisputed champion despite long periods of inactivity. Jones has reportedly requested a six-month training camp before facing interim champion Tom Aspinall. This demand has raised eyebrows throughout the MMA community. Critics suggest he is avoiding the dangerous Brit, while supporters argue he is simply being professional in his preparation.

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Either way, this delay works in Jones’ favor for breaking Velasquez’s record. If Jones continues to hold the title without fighting Aspinall for another six months, he will surpass the 896-day mark and claim yet another UFC record. It’s worth remembering that Jones has never truly been defeated in the octagon, with his only loss coming via disqualification for illegal elbows against Matt Hamill back in 2009. His tactical approach to both fighting and career management has frustrated fans but undeniably extended his time at the top.

Tom Aspinall: The Interim Champion Making Unwanted History

On the other side of this heavyweight equation stands Tom Aspinall, who brutally knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in just 69 seconds at UFC 295 to claim the interim heavyweight title. Aspinall has been waiting patiently (or perhaps not so patiently) for his shot at unification with Jones. His wait has now stretched longer than most interim champions ever hold their temporary belts.

Aspinall’s reign as interim champion is set to break another record. He is currently sitting at 488 days as the interim champion. The current record for this is 534 days. Even if the fight is announced today, Aspinall is set to break this record. What was designed as a stopgap measure has become an extended state of championship purgatory for the Manchester native.

If Jones continues to delay their inevitable showdown, Aspinall will break the dubious record for longest-reigning interim champion in UFC history. The irony isn’t lost on Aspinall, who has joked about being the “permanent interim champion” on social media. Despite the frustration, he’s maintained his sense of humor while continuing to train and improve!

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam/Brad Penner – Imagn Images)

Cain Velasquez

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!