Dana White Confirms Tom Aspinall as Backup Fighter for UFC 309
Dana White Confirms Tom Aspinall as Backup Fighter for UFC 309
By Tim Burke September 18, 2024 12:59
On November 16th, Jon Jones will return to the Octagon for the first time since his win over Ciryl Gane in March of 2023. UFC 309 will be Jones's first fight in 623 days. During Jones's absence, the emergence of Tom Aspinall as the top contender in the heavyweight division has sparked a fervent demand for Jones to step into the Octagon against Aspinall.
However, the UFC has plans for Jon Jones to defend his belt against Stipe Miocic in a legacy fight between two of the greatest fighters in UFC history. The fight was initially supposed to take place at UFC 295 in November 2023 but was canceled due to Jones's injury.
Since then, Aspinall has become the third Interim champion in UFC history to defend the title, which he did at UFC 304 in his backyard in Manchester, England. He knocked out Curtis Blaydes in just one minute of the first round.
Tom Aspinall's insane power has made him a fan favorite in the UFC. His Average Fight Time of 2:02 is the shortest in UFC history. He is the most dangerous heavyweight alive. He has won the hearts of MMA fans around the world, and they want to see the interim champion get his shot undisputed.
"I, of course, have told the UFC. If anyone gets injured or if there is any other reason why nobody can make that fight or why one of them might pull out, I'm ready to go. If I need to, I will fight both of them on the same night." Aspinall stated on his YouTube channel following the announcement of Jones vs Miocic at UFC 309.
Jones, 37, is recovering from surgery due to a torn pectoral tendon, and Miocic, 42, has not fought in three years after losing at UFC 260. Hopefully, this fight will happen, but the UFC has confirmed they do have a backup plan just in case.
"Yes. Tom Aspinall is next in line for anything that happens after this fight." Dana White told reporters following the Dana White Contenders Series on Tuesday.
The dynamic between Aspinall, Jones, and Miocic is a truly unique one in UFC history, and it's a storyline that's not just good for business, but also incredibly engaging for fans. As fans eagerly await the showdown between Jones and Aspinall, the anticipation and demand for that epic battle continues to grow. However, there is no guarantee it will happen.
"It's going to be the last time," Jones told a reporter at Noche UFC when asked if UFC 309 was his retirement fight. UFC fans will recall that Aspinall stepped in against Sergei Pavlovich for the interim championship, delivering a highlight-reel knockout just 1:09 into round one.
Jones vs. Aspinall could be the biggest fight in UFC history, but Jon Jones decides whether it happens or not. MMA fans will just have to continue to be patient to see if Aspinall will get the opportunity to fight Jon Jones.
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