Tom Aspinall is on top of the world following his outstanding performance which saw him capture the interim UFC heavyweight championship. On just two weeks’ notice, the elite powerhouse ended Sergei Pavlovich’s terrifying run in the division with a knockout just one minute into the fight.
The Brit now finds himself as the standout competitor in the weight class but it looks like he may have to wait to unify the title. Current champion Jon Jones looks set to defend his throne against Stipe Miocic next with Aspinall likely next in line for a shot at one of the MMA greats.
While speaking with Michael Bisping about the uncertainty within his division, the 30-year-old insisted ‘Bones’ should be stripped of the belt just like everybody else has been when suffering injuries.
“I think Jon Jones should be stripped of the title, to be honest, because everyone else does when they get injured like that. I don’t see why he’s still got it, I don’t understand that. I think I should be the real champion right now.”
“It’s hard to say without sounding rude but who’s a**ed about Jon Jones and Stipe anymore? Why do we get this legacy fight and they get to live by their own rules?… I want to fight Stipe and then I want to fight Jon Jones is what I want to do.”
“Stop protecting your boy there at the top, Jon Jones. If he’s injured, get out of the way, I’ll fight Stipe… Who’s gonna be bothered about that fight in a years time? Like, let’s move on. I’m the champion now, I’ll fight Stipe, he’s available. Me and Stipe will fight and when I beat Stipe, I’ll fight Jon Jones.”
The major change that turned Tom Aspinall from a rising prospect to the interim UFC heavyweight champion?
As he remains unbeaten under the UFC banner and looks like one of the best fighters in the world, Tom Aspinall revealed that a change in training set him on a path to gold.
“I feel like, without training with heavyweights, I was just losing confidence.” Said Aspinall. “That’s it’s no disrespect to Team Kaobon or any of the other teams I’ve trained with that didn’t have heavyweights. It’s just, for me to get to the next level, I thought I needed to train with only heavyweights. Exclusively heavyweights. Mate, since I’ve been doing that, my level has gone absolutely through the roof.”
“I was feeling too comfortable in the gym. I wasn’t getting tested, I wasn’t motivated and I was feeling a bit unconfident. I needed to go on the mat with a bit of fear to push me to the next level.”
https://www.mmaweekly.com/news/tom-aspinall-wants-jon-jones-stripped-of-ufc-title-i-should-be-the-real-champ-right-now
