After his interim title-winning performance at UFC 295, Tom Aspinall can’t imagine anyone is still clamoring to see Jon Jones fight Stipe Miocic.
Stepping into the main event spotlight in the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, Aspinall shocked the world with a stunning 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich, a fighter who entered the bout riding a six-fight first-round knockout streak. The victory earned Aspinall the interim UFC heavyweight championship and an eventual date with either undisputed titleholder Jon Jones or former two-time champ Stipe Miocic.
“I want to fight Jon Jones, man,” Aspinall told TMZ Sports. “And this is no disrespect to Stipe at all,” Aspinall said. “After a performance like Saturday night, who really cares about 42-year-old Stipe who has not fought for 3 or 4 years coming back and fighting Jon Jones? Ya know what I mean? I just knocked out the scariest dude in the UFC in a minute.”
Tom Aspinall defeats Sergei Pavlovich
1st Round KO#ufc295 pic.twitter.com/VoKLIoIxM9— CommonSense (@DAADDDYYYYhere) November 12, 2023
“I know it’s like a big respect thing. Stipe is like the greatest heavyweight ever and Jon Jones is arguably the greatest MMA fighter ever,” Aspinall continued. “I get that. I completely get that, but it’s also about relevance,” he said. “It’s also about excitement. It’s also about what puts people in seats, what people are gonna buy pay-per-views, and I’m more exciting than anybody right now. I deserve a shot. I’m the champion.”
Tom Aspinall Doesn’t Believe Miocic is Deserving of an Immediate Title Opportunity
By the time Stipe Miocic steps back inside the Octagon, it will have been three years since he surrendered the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou via a second-round knockout.
“Jon Jones is the champion. I’m not saying he’s not,” he added. “But I’m a champion as well and Stipe, and this is no disrespect to Stipe at all, I’m a massive fan of his, but Stipe at this point was guy who hasn’t fought in three years and is coming off a loss.”
Watch the full interview below:
