Dana White has revealed that Tom Aspinall is keen to return to the octagon, with plans for him to defend the interim heavyweight strap before undisputed champion Jon Jones comes back. Combat sports journalist Chisanga Malata tweeted earlier today that White seemingly confirmed Tom Aspinall is set to defend his interim heavyweight title, as the UFC still plans for the Jon Jones versus Stipe Miocic bout this summer. White’s quote stated that Aspinall is “raring and ready to go” and prepared to fight either opponent, hoping to prove he’s the best heavyweight in the world.
These plans come in the wake of Aspinall’s stunning knockout of Sergei Pavlovich in the first round at UFC 295 earlier in 2023, where the 30-year-old became the third British champion in UFC history, securing the interim gold. More recently, Aspinall teased the idea of facing off against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at UFC 300. Although ‘Poatan’ has welcomed the challenge, he has brushed off the possibility of the fight happening anytime soon.
On the other hand, Jon Jones was supposed to be headlining UFC 295 against Stipe Miocic, but a shoulder injury sustained during training forced him to withdraw from the event. Jones continues to nurse the injury, and while there is no specific comeback date, he is expected to return to active competition by mid-2024.
Despite the setback, the UFC appears determined to schedule the awaited Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic matchup. In a December interview with TNT Sports, Dana White confirmed that the fight would be rescheduled, dismissing the idea of Miocic taking on Tom Aspinall in the meantime. White emphasized that both fighters deserve the fight, and the injury suffered by Jones is out of his control. Furthermore, he stated that Stipe wants the Jon Jones fight and vice versa, making perfect sense to arrange the clash between two of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.
