Tom Aspinall does not plan to continue defending his interim UFC title.
Aspinall (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) was hoping to unify his belt with heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but first he will have to wait until Jones defends his belt against Stipe Miocic.
Meanwhile, Aspinall defends his interim title in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes (18-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 304 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) on July 27 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.
Aspinall’s only loss in the UFC was to Blaydes via TKO in July 2022, where he blew out his knee just 15 seconds into the fight.
“My confidence has grown a lot since then,” said Aspinall talkSPORT MMA. “Everything is just better. I’m a new version of myself than I was when I fought (Blaydes) last time, and he’s improved too, so a whole new fight this time.”
Aspinall isn’t holding his breath when it comes to facing Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC). All he knows is that if he gets past Blaydes, he will only fight for the undisputed title next. Jones and Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) are scheduled to fight on November 9th in New York.
“I’m over it,” Aspinall said of Jones. “I’m fighting Curtis Blaydes. It’s a tough fight and I’m preparing for Curtis, so Jon Jones and all the rest of the politics are irrelevant to me at the moment. (I’m) focused on him and nothing else. … If I win this one, which I believe I will, the next fight has to be for the undisputed (title) – for sure. I’ll wait if I have to after this one. But for now, that doesn’t exist.”
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC 304.
