In the lead up to UFC 309, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones has dropped a mixed bag of revelations for Tom Aspinall. Jones, the heavyweight champion and ex-dual light-heavyweight titleholder, was slated to put his heavyweight title at stake against Stipe Miocic in a bout that was originally set for last November. A regrettable pectoral injury, however, led to a delay in this schedule.
In the intervening period, a very interested crowd saw Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich step up to the limelight, where the British fighter dominated with a knockout in the initial round. They battled for the interim title, a position Aspinall maintained in a later fight, solidifying his title with a swift knockout against Curtis Blaydes in July.
Given this backdrop, it seems obvious that Aspinall would be next to face whoever emerges victorious in the Jones vs Miocic bout slated for this coming Saturday. However, the UFC machinations may not play out so straightforwardly, as several factors loom in the scene.
Miocic, the 42-year-old ex-champion, is broadly speculated to bow out of contending after UFC 309. Simultaneously, the 37-year-old Jones has let slip he may leave the heavyweight title to go after the reigning light-heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, or consider retirement.
He further clarified his position this week, positing that he could surrender his heavyweight title for an opportunity to take on Pereira. This move delivers a double-edged sword for Aspinall. On the downside, he may not get the chance to compete with Jones, his dream adversary; on the brighter side, he stands a strong chance of becoming the uncontested champion.
Jones expressed his willingness to relinquish the heavyweight title to fight Pereira on Monday. He pointed out that bowing out from the light-heavyweight title was an experience he didn’t regret, and he entertains the idea of equally stepping down from the heavyweight championship on his terms.
Picturing a scenario where he’s competing against Pereira for the ‘BMF’ belt, he conveyed his excitement. He added that it would be a riveting contest, each of them holding two belts in two different categories, and striving for their third one.
Pereira is no stranger to this battle; having secured the middleweight championship before claiming the light-heavyweight title, a BMF bout could be another feather in his cap. His energetic involvement and potent knockout capabilities have won him favor among fans that are likely to support his part in any potential ‘BMF’ contest.
Yet some fans aren’t so inclined, arguing that Jones’ apparent sidestep from a Aspinall bout should render him disqualified from a BMF title. Aspinall, age 31, has an impressive record in the UFC since his debut in the ring in 2020. He currently boasts eight wins to one loss.
Each victory has resulted in a knockout (six) or submission (two), and an impressive seven out of the eight wins happened in quick succession, taking place in the first round. The remaining win was an equally prominent second-round win showing his undeniable skill.
Aspinall’s single loss since joining UFC came in 2022 when he suffered a knee injury 15 seconds into the bout with Blaydes. Yet, later Aspinall left no room for doubters when he defeated Blaydes with a clean KO in their rematch this past July.
Given these circumstances, the future holds several possibilities. One scenario could see Aspinall crowned the uncontested champion following Miocic’s potential retirement and Jones’s suggested step back. Yet, should Jones stay, a showdown is inevitable.
On the other hand, Jones moving to a lower weight class could set the stage for a thrilling encounter with Pereira. And with a BMF belt on the line, the stakes could not be higher.
The varied opinions among fans add another layer of intrigue and speculation to these possibilities. Will Jones’s sidestepping of Aspinall impact his chances for a coveted BMF title contention? This is a question whose answer only time will unfurl.
Upcoming UFC events promise nail-biting match-ups and a reshuffling of the dominion of titles. Depending on the outcome of the highly anticipated Jones vs Miocic bout, the path ahead for Aspinall and other contenders could look dramatically different.
Deservedly or not, the limelight for now falls on Jones, and his decisions will set the stage for new chapters in UFC. As fans across the globe eagerly hold their breath, the sports world is poised for an unforgettable spectacle.