Tom Aspinall defends his interim heavyweight title within the co-main occasion of UFC 304, however there’s no telling when he might have an opportunity to unify the belts and develop into undisputed champion.
With Jon Jones anticipated to return in November to defend his heavyweight title in opposition to Stipe Miocic, Aspinall stays the odd man out assuming he will get previous Curtis Blaydes on Saturday evening. It’s been a degree of frustration for Aspinall, who has repeatedly referred to as for the possibility to face Jones solely to have his requests rebuffed.
As a result of Jones could also be nearing the tip of his profession, Aspinall might by no means get the possibility to land that battle, however UFC analyst Laura Sanko doesn’t know if that basically issues with regards to the Englishman’s declare as the most effective heavyweight within the sport.
“I’ve by no means wavered from saying that Jon Jones is the best of all time,” Sanko advised MMA Preventing. “That’s one thing that you just’re not going to listen to change popping out of my mouth any time quickly. However presently, the most effective heavyweight on the planet, I imagine, is Tom Aspinall.”
Aspinall’s run to the highest of the division has seen him torch almost each opponent he’s confronted with none making it previous the second spherical. The one blemish on his document got here in opposition to Blaydes two years in the past, when Aspinall suffered a extreme knee harm simply 15 seconds into the battle.
In the meantime, Jones’ solely battle at heavyweight got here when he dispatched Ciryl Gane in dominant vogue in March 2023 to say the title left vacant by Francis Ngannou’s UFC exit. Since that win, Jones has said emphatically that he’s solely excited about Miocic subsequent, largely as a result of Ohio native being broadly thought-about the most effective heavyweight in UFC historical past.
Sanko sees no downside with Jones preferring to chase the Miocic battle over Aspinall, however that doesn’t imply the matchup will truly decide the highest heavyweight within the sport.
“I believe once we see Jon and Stipe battle, it’s going to be an amazing battle,” Sanko stated. “I believe we’re going to have our eyes glued to that battle. However are we going to get the reply as to whether he’s the present greatest heavyweight by preventing Stipe Miocic? Or vice versa, is Stipe the most effective present heavyweight by preventing Jon Jones?
“I don’t know that reply goes to be absolutely revealed in that battle. For me, it could take Jon Jones preventing a Tom Aspinall to cement that.”
As a lot as Jones vs. Aspinall might settle the query about who’s UFC’s greatest heavyweight, Sanko makes it clear that’s not a matchup the previous gentle heavyweight champ wants on his résumé. Sanko argues that Jones has already cemented his place in historical past, which is why she already considers him the best of all time.
“Does [Jones] want that although for his general MMA legacy? Completely not,” Sanko stated. “No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t owe this sport anything. He has paid his dues. He has already cemented his legacy. So it’s as much as Jon at that time to determine the place he’s, the place his physique is.”
There are additionally longstanding rumors that Jones might name it a profession after preventing Miocic.
If he does resolve to stay round previous November, Sanko believes Jones will not be all that excited about unifying titles with Aspinall, however might go after a unique champion as a substitute.
“To be trustworthy with you, and I don’t understand how this may play out by way of interim and undisputed, I might see Jon being far more excited about an Alex Pereira battle than he can be in a Tom Aspinall battle,” Sanko stated. “How on Earth that may occur with doubtlessly Tom Aspinall sitting once more on an interim belt that’s feeling increasingly like an undisputed belt? No thought.
“However simply by way of curiosity from Jon Jones, I believe he would discover the Alex Pereira battle actually attention-grabbing as a result of I believe he would really feel like he had an enormous benefit in that one.”
Sanko acknowledges that even suggesting Jones vs. Pereira might fire up all kinds of points throughout a number of UFC divisions, however that doesn’t imply it gained’t occur. If he doesn’t retire after the Miocic battle, Jones in all probability doesn’t have a lot time left in MMA, and a showdown in opposition to Pereira often is the precise form of matchup to maintain him round a short time longer.
“Are you able to think about what an absolute crap present that may be?” Sanko stated. “I imply, I wish to see this stuff, however there’s additionally part of me that likes to be organized, that likes to be logical, that likes issues to occur the way in which it ought to occur. That a part of my mind is like, what on Earth? How is that this even going to occur? However do I wish to see Alex Pereira battle Jon Jones? I is likely to be actually excited about that, actually.
“I additionally wish to see Tom Aspinall battle Jon Jones; I’m solely saying that I don’t know Jon’s curiosity degree in that one as a lot. I’m guessing right here, nevertheless it’s actually making for a captivating scene after we get previous this weekend. The conversations available are a lot.”
