Tom Aspinall has endured a nightmare yr ready to search out out if he was really going to battle Jon Jones or not however he lastly obtained some readability on Saturday when the now former UFC heavyweight champion introduced his retirement from the game.
As a lot as he needed to face Jones after successful and defending the interim heavyweight title, Aspinall made it clear on quite a few events that his predominant aim was staying lively and changing into an undisputed champion. Now with Jones out of the image, Aspinall has been promoted as the one heavyweight champion on the UFC roster and he’s able to get again to work with lofty aspirations in thoughts.
Whereas Aspinall says it was a “little bit of a difficult time” coping with the layoff and uncertainty, he’s excited for the longer term.
“I’m going to maintain this factor as lively as attainable,” Aspinall said in a video posted to his YouTube channel on Sunday. “I wish to be the very best heavyweight ever to stroll the face of the Earth. I’m going to defend this factor as many instances as I presumably can.”
Aspinall already holds a outstanding 8-1 document within the UFC together with his lone loss coming after he suffered a severe knee harm in a battle in opposition to Curtis Blaydes. He ultimately avenged that defeat with a blistering 60-second knockout over Blaydes within the rematch this previous July.
In his eight wins within the UFC, Aspinall has solely gone previous the primary spherical one time and he clearly maintains an ideal 100-percent ending price.
Whereas it’s been an extended wait to lastly turn into undisputed champion, Aspinall says he’s able to get busy with the Jones state of affairs resolved and he hopes to ebook his subsequent battle earlier than later.
“I’m going to maintain you guys entertained and I’m actually going to provide again to all people who has confirmed me assist over the past yr, over the past 5 years, over the past 10 years,” Aspinall mentioned. “I actually admire the assist and love from all people. We’re going to see an lively, defending UFC heavyweight undisputed champion going ahead.”
On Sunday, UFC CEO Dana White revealed plans to satisfy with Aspinall in Las Vegas throughout Worldwide Struggle Week to debate his subsequent matchup.
The main candidates for a possible title shot embrace Ciryl Gane and Jailton Almeida, however White didn’t speculate on any names simply but. He’s largely ready till sitting down with Aspinall to debate choices after which get his subsequent battle booked.
With the UFC schedule already set by way of August and no plans for a September pay-per-view, it’s possible that Aspinall couldn’t battle any sooner than October for his potential return to motion.
