Tom Aspinall is clearly focused on what lies ahead as the latter half of 2025 approaches.
Although the interim UFC heavyweight champion is still waiting for his first fight of the year to be officially booked, it appears steps are being taken to schedule his next opponent soon. Aspinall is eager to get back into competition, whether it`s against current UFC champion Jon Jones or another top contender, and it seems he will do so with the support of UFC CEO Dana White.
Following UFC 316, White was questioned about the ongoing situation between Jones and Aspinall. While admitting he hadn`t followed all the recent drama, White definitively stated that Aspinall is “the guy” and that he still hopes to make a heavyweight championship unification bout a reality.
Aspinall expressed satisfaction upon hearing that the UFC boss is backing him.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aspinall addressed public perception of his statements. “I think a lot of people see what I’ve said and think it’s some kind of media stunt,” he commented. “Listen, I don’t engage in that sort of thing. If I’m going to speak out and say something, it will be informed information.” He added, “As I’ve mentioned a couple of times, it’s not for me to announce. That’s above my level; I don’t announce fights, I don’t announce any UFC news or anything like that. But something is coming, definitely something is coming. Dana White says I’m his man, which is great. And I’m going to prove that pretty soon, so it’s happening.”
Meanwhile, Jon Jones recently used Twitter to extensively dismiss Aspinall, the interim titleholder, as a challenger. He also addressed rumors that former UFC champion Francis Ngannou might consider returning to the promotion under the right conditions. Jones posted that a fight against Ngannou would be “a real superfight” and “a clash of champions, not just hype.”
While White has shut down the possibility of Ngannou returning, that didn`t stop Aspinall from contemplating how he would match up against the PFL star, who left the UFC while still holding the belt.
Aspinall reiterated his long-held stance on accepting fights. “I’ve said many times that the day I start avoiding fights and turning down opponents, or thinking about turning opponents down, is the day I will retire,” Aspinall stated. “As I’ve always said, and you can ask any promoter I’ve ever worked with, any people at the UFC, I’ll fight anyone, I’ll fight anytime, and I’ll fight anywhere. I have never turned down a fight in my life. I never will.” He concluded, “The day I even start thinking about turning down fights is the day I’ll retire, so to answer the question, I will fight whoever they want me to fight.”
