Tom Aspinall ought to not be defending his interim Final Combating Championship (UFC) Heavyweight title. Nevertheless, he’ll do precisely that when he rematches Curtis Blaydes in UFC 304’s co-main occasion this month (Sat., July 27, 2024).
The British famous person claimed interim gold within the absence of the undisputed titleholder, Jon Jones, after “Bones” tore his pectoral muscle late final 12 months. Jones’ damage dissolved his deliberate first title protection in opposition to former two-time divisional kingpin, Stipe Miocic, which was already a questionable pairing.
Regardless of Miocic having not fought since a 2021 knockout loss and Jones being sidelined since he gained the vacant strap in March 2023, the promotion is sticking to creating the battle. Relying on how UFC 304 performs out, former Gentle Heavyweight and Heavyweight champion, Daniel Cormier, can see a severe fan revolt on the horizon.
“Might you think about if Tom Aspinall simply washes out Curtis Blaydes?” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel. “Then the firestorm that might begin to collect for him to battle [Jon] Jones? For there to actually be an rebellion, it must be Aspinall destroying Blaydes. Solely due to this: You’ve seen Curtis Blaydes lose earlier than, so folks would suppose, ‘Oh, he beat Tom Aspinall, however we’ve seen him get beat by Francis [Ngannou] and lose to different guys.’
“If Aspinall goes by means of Blaydes, in the best way that he did Sergei [Pavlovich], and he’s solely misplaced due to that damage default, folks would lose their minds,” he continued. “Virtually insisting that he and Jones battle, if Tom Aspinall can get by means of this battle, and he’s clear and appears dominant, there could also be such a fan rebellion that the UFC could need to be pressured to make Jones vs. Aspinall. I don’t know what that might imply for my man Stipe [Miocic], but it surely feels like if it does occur, he’s okay with it.”
Blaydes is the one fighter to have defeated Aspinall within the champion’s eight-fight UFC run (14-3 total). “Razor” scored the win over Aspinall when their UFC London principal occasion ended unceremoniously by a 15-second technical knockout when Aspinall tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in July 2022 (watch highlights).
