Tom Aspinall argues for Jon Jones fight over Stipe Miocic: ‘It’s about who’s the best right now’

Tom Aspinall believes he deserves to combat Jon Jones as a substitute of Stipe Miocic.

This previous November, UFC heavyweight champion Jones was imagined to defend his title towards Stipe Miocic in the principle occasion of UFC 295. Sadly, Jones was compelled out of the combat on account of harm, and as a substitute, Apinall stepped in on quick discover to face Sergei Pavlovich for an interim title, whereas the UFC deliberate to rebook Jones and Miocic at a later date. Aspinall ended up profitable the interim belt with a 69-second knockout, and whereas the UFC appears to nonetheless be on board with Jones defending towards Miocic, it appears like Aspinall is getting a bit impatient.

On Thursday, Aspinall took to social media to decry the thought of Miocic attending to combat for a title regardless of his lengthy layoff.

To Aspinall’s level, UFC mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira first competed for the promotion in November of 2021, eight months after Miocic’s most up-to-date combat, and has since fought seven occasions, profitable each the UFC mild heavyweight and middleweight titles.

However Aspinall didn’t cease there. Although the UFC has but to formally announce a combat between Jones and Miocic, UFC CEO Dana White did beforehand declare that Aspinall wouldn’t get the chance to combat both Jones or Miocic subsequent, and Aspinall is none too happy.

“Absolutely for those who’re interim champ, your subsequent combat ought to be to combat for undisputed? Come on

“Stipe is considered one of my favorites. A great deal of respect to him his résumé is way superior to mine [right now]. That being mentioned the UFC has by no means been about this. It’s about who’s the most effective proper now, and I imagine that’s me and it’s solely proper I get to show it #freeaspinall”

Extensively thought-about probably the most achieved heavyweight in UFC historical past, Miocic has not fought since getting knocked out by Francis Ngannou in March 2021 and holds no wins over presently ranked UFC heavyweights. In distinction, Aspinall has 4 wins over presently ranked top-10 heavyweights, all by first-round end.

This isn’t the primary time Aspinall has spoken out about his present state of affairs. Not lengthy after profitable the title, the interim champion advised Jones ought to be stripped of his belt on account of harm, as has occurred with a number of current champions. Jones, in fact, didn’t like this concept a lot and, at the very least in the interim, it looks as if he’s nonetheless set on going through Miocic someday in 2024.

***UPDATE***

Aspinall continued to put up concerning the potential combat between Jones and Miocic, once more calling into query the reasonableness of Miocic getting a title shot given the circumstances.

“Last enjoyable truth:

“Since Stipe final gained a combat (Aug ‘20) , I’ve blown my knee out, went [through] the rehab course of and had a 12 months off, additionally had 7 UFC fights, together with 4 wins vs high 10 ranked opponents and gained the interim title on 2 weeks discover

“Completely, Stipe has an awesome resume and is a legend in his personal proper. So has Tony [Ferguson]. Perhaps we should always give him a shot on the undisputed title subsequent too?”