If he can’t get a fight with Jon Jones, interim titleholder Tom Aspinall will gladly welcome a clash with Alex Pereira.
Returning to the Octagon for a short-notice scrap with Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303, ‘Poatan’ delivered yet another epic highlight-reel KO, finishing ‘BJP’ in the opening seconds of the second round with a perfectly timed head kick followed by a few unnecessary shots on the ground.
The win has once again solidified Pereira’s status as the most exciting fighter on the roster and scored him the No. 2 spot in the UFC’s P4P rankings.
Speaking with talkSPORT ahead of his own return to the Octagon on July 27 in Manchester, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall discussed the possibility of a future fight with the ‘Brazilian Boogeyman.’
“As we’ve seen with me, I’m not shying away from anybody, so if the UFC wants to do that [fight], I’m more than happy to do it,” Aspinall said.
Tom Aspinall says he’d be interested in a fight with Alex Pereira 👀
“I’m not shying away from anybody… I absolutely want to fight him but I’m sure there will be a time and a place for it…
If that’s what the UFC want to do one day then we’ll absolutely do it.”
🎥 @talkSPORT… pic.twitter.com/HwCMgaERxE
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 3, 2024
Tom Aspinall Has the Utmost Respect for Alex Pereira
Aspinall had nothing, but positive things to say about Pereira, dubbing ‘Poatan’ as one of the “best fighters in UFC history” less than 10 fights into his tenure.
“As an elite-level fighter myself, you can’t help but be impressed with what Alex Pereira has done over the past couple of years. This time a few years ago no one knew who he was, now he’s one of the biggest stars in MMA, one of the best fighters in UFC history, I really respect what he’s done.
“Does that mean that I don’t want to fight him, no. I absolutely want to fight him. I’m sure there will be a time and a place for it. I’m not jumping ahead of things right now. If that’s what the UFC wants to do then we’ll absolutely do it.”
Co-headlining UFC 304 in his native England, Tom Aspinall will become the first man in more than a decade to defend an interim belt when he puts the temporary title on the line against the only man to have handed him a loss inside the Octagon—Curtis Blaydes.
Presumably, the winner of that fight would go on to challenge undisputed heavyweight king Jon Jones—once ‘Bones’ settles some business with two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic. Of course, not even that is guaranteed as Jones has often teased retirement following his fight with the consensus heavyweight GOAT.
If that happens, Aspinall vs. Pereira would undoubtedly be the biggest fight the UFC could make at heavyweight.
Watch the full interview below:
