Ahead of his scheduled bout against Ion Cutelaba at UFC 315 this Saturday, Modestas Bukauskas shared insights into his preparation, revealing the significant support he received from interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. This assistance came despite Aspinall currently lacking a confirmed fight in the foreseeable future.
While fellow fighters at their training facility are gearing up for upcoming contests, Aspinall finds himself in a holding pattern, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to challenge Jon Jones and unify the UFC heavyweight title. As uncertainty persists regarding the timing or even certainty of this highly anticipated clash, Bukauskas lauded Aspinall for his unwavering presence and support for the team.
“For him, I just want him to get this fight,” Bukauskas commented. “There just seems to be so much stalling and negotiating and stuff like that’s going on. Tom honestly just wants to fight. He openly says he’ll fight anyone.”
Bukauskas acknowledged that facing Jon Jones is the obvious next step for Aspinall, but understands the frustration of the delay. “Obviously, it’s frustrating for him. I can imagine it’s very annoying but at the same time, he can only control what he can control. That’s what he’s doing.” This involves consistent daily training and actively helping teammates prepare for their own fights. Bukauskas highlighted Aspinall`s valuable contribution to fighters like himself and others on the team, including James Webb, who recently defended his Cage Warriors title.
It has been almost a year since Aspinall`s last appearance in the octagon, where he secured his interim title with a rapid one-minute knockout victory over Curtis Blaydes in July. Just four months later, Jon Jones successfully defended his heavyweight championship by defeating Stipe Miocic via knockout. However, the UFC has yet to finalize an agreement to pit the two champions against each other in a unification bout. With the UFC`s summer schedule rapidly filling up, it appears increasingly probable that Aspinall may have to postpone his shot at Jones until the fall.
Bukauskas described Aspinall`s dedication to training every day, sympathizing with the frustration of putting in extensive work without a fight date. “I can understand from his point of view, very frustrating because when you’re training so hard and you’re putting in all this work, you want to be able to put on shows,” he stated, expressing hope that the situation resolves soon so Aspinall can compete, particularly as he is arguably in his prime. The recurring question among fans and fighters alike remains: what is causing the prolonged hold-up?
As a veteran light heavyweight himself, Bukauskas once aspired to face Jon Jones during his long reign in that division. Jones holds the record for the longest tenure as the 205-pound champion and has since transitioned to the heavyweight division, where he currently holds a 2-0 record.
Bukauskas Analyzes Potential Aspinall vs. Jones Matchup
While deeply respecting Jones`s impressive career accomplishments, Bukauskas offered a stern warning, suggesting that Aspinall presents a challenge unlike any Jones has previously encountered.
“I mean listen, Tom is unlike anything that I’ve ever trained with, that I’ve ever sparred with and I know for a fact it’s unlike anything Jon Jones has ever fought,” Bukauskas declared. He elaborated on Aspinall`s key attributes: “When I think about Tom, I think about his speed, his athleticism, his fight IQ. It’s like all the best fighters in the world, they’re thinking of stuff on the go as they’re reacting and making little adjustments and those little adjustments are what gives them the finishing blow. His fight IQ is insane. He’s obviously mad fast and he’s extremely explosive and athletic. These are all things that are in his favor.”
Comparing their skills, Bukauskas acknowledged Jones as “extremely technical,” possessing strong wrestling, striking, and jiu-jitsu, and training with tough partners. However, he believes Aspinall possesses similar technical prowess combined with the advantage of youth and a distinct athletic ability that could prove effective in various aspects against Jones. He anticipates that many observers might be surprised by Aspinall`s performance, adding, “I think Tom is just a different kind of athlete, which is why I want them to fight. I want Tom to be able to show the people how good he is.”
Despite the uncertainties and lack of concrete information regarding his next fight, Aspinall consistently trains, staying prepared for the eventual confrontation with Jones in the octagon.
Bukauskas expressed profound admiration for Aspinall, both as a teammate and for the leadership he demonstrates through his unwavering dedication, showing up daily even while his own fight schedule is in limbo. He considers Aspinall, along with his father, essentially the “team captain,” from whom he gains invaluable insights into mindset, training methods, and sparring approach. Bukauskas firmly believes that training alongside Aspinall has significantly contributed to his own development as a fighter.
