Following an astounding triumph against Curtis Blaydes during UFC 304, in which he effectively held on to his temporary UFC heavyweight title, British heavyweight sensation Tom Aspinall is setting his sights on a more expansive platform. He has put forth the suggestion of a single-evening heavyweight contest that might bring him face-to-face with Alex Pereira, Jon Jones, and Stipe Miocic—three formidable behemoths of the UFC. Recently, Aspinall’s name has been mentioned along with Jones and Pereira, leading to his creation of a YouTube video where he prognosticates a potential collision with Pereira, the reigning undisputed champion in the division beneath, fighting for the heavyweight crown in 2025.
Given the unclear future paths of both Jones and Miocic, Aspinall views a face-off with Pereira as a probable upcoming event. UFC’s President, Dana White, confirmed Miocic’s retirement plans following his contest with Jones at Madison Square Garden later this year, reinforcing Miocic’s status as arguably the most successful heavyweight ever. Meanwhile, Jones’s own future in the arena seems uncertain, as the ex-light heavyweight titlist alludes to potential retirement depending on the outcomes of his fight against Miocic.
This degree of uncertainty has ignited speculative discussions indicating that UFC might arrange a bout between Aspinall and Pereira for the unchallenged heavyweight title, should both Jones and Miocic decide to take a step back from their careers. Aspinall, true to his reputation of demonstrating honor and decorum, conveyed a respectful message to Pereira, saying, ‘The guy’s a superstar in this field, so he can make any move he wishes. If we happen to cross paths, I believe we both have the same end-goal—an unchallenged Heavyweight title. Looking forward to possibly meeting you sometime next year.’
Aspinall stressed that any potential confrontation with Pereira ought to be for the supreme championship, not a provisional one, adding, ‘I hold immense respect for Alex Pereira and his accomplishments in this sport, particularly in such a brief time span. However, if a match is to take place, it should indisputably be for the heavyweight title.’, Despite Aspinall ascending swiftly through the ranks and establishing himself in the heavyweight division, Jon Jones seems rather unenthused about bestowing upon him the opportunity to fight.
While Aspinall has held onto the dream of squaring off against Jones, the narrowing window for this dream due to Jones’ impending retirement seems to be closing. Consequently, amid the dynamic sequence of events in the heavyweight string, all attention is riveted on the potential future clash between Tom Aspinall and Alex Pereira. This potential showdown could very well lay the foundation for the landscape of the heavyweight division in the coming years.