Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall thinks Jon Jones had a major rooting curiosity in his UFC 304 co-main occasion bout.

Aspinall made fast work of Curtis Blaydes as he efficiently defended his interim belt at UFC 304. Only a minute into the primary spherical, Aspinall swarmed Blaydes with a barrage of punches that pressured the referee to cease the motion.

Aspinall now awaits the winner of the anticipated Jones vs. Stipe Miocic battle to problem for the lineal UFC heavyweight championship. After incomes the interim belt at UFC 295, he turned the primary UFC fighter since 2013 to defend an interim title.

Aspinall has referred to as for a mammoth conflict with Jones for months, ever since Jones earned the then-vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285. After his efficiency at UFC 304, Aspinall feels he made Jones suppose twice about doubtlessly reserving a future battle.

Tom Aspinall eyes Jon Jones after UFC 304 assertion win

In the course of the UFC 304 post-fight press convention, Aspinall turned his consideration to a possible conflict with Jones.

“Jon’s the undisputed champion, however I’m one of the best on the planet, if that makes any sense,” Aspinall stated. “We all know what Jon’s doing. Jon was there, crossing his fingers and toes tonight hoping I’d lose to Curtis, let’s not bull***t about it. He posted about it masses anyway that I’m going to lose to him. That didn’t occur, in order that’s the battle I need subsequent…

“He’ll be very offended about it or the truth that everybody’s saying that I can beat him, however that’s OK,” Aspinall continued. “Quite the opposite to what Jon Jones fanboys may suppose, I’ve nothing towards Jon Jones as an individual. I feel I’m one of the best heavyweight on the planet and if he thinks he’s one of the best heavyweight on the planet, let’s settle it. Easy as that. It’s not rocket science. There’s two guys who’re claiming to be one of the best heavyweight on the planet. Let’s settle it, easy as that.” (h/t MMA Preventing)

Aspinall has received three consecutive fights since an damage stoppage loss to Blaydes in 2022. He made his comeback in 2023 with back-to-back finishes over Marcin Tybura and Sergei Pavlovich.

Jones is rumored to make his return towards Miocic on the UFC’s November pay-per-view occasion in New York Metropolis. As of this writing, the promotion hasn’t formally introduced nor booked the UFC Corridor of Famer’s return.

Whereas Aspinall doesn’t imagine Jones is outright frightened of him, he thinks the heavyweight champion had a most popular winner in thoughts at UFC 304, and the UK star ruined his hopes emphatically.