Ali Akbar Rosady
Tom Aspinall, the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion, has emphatically declared his intent to sever ties with the prolonged narrative surrounding former titleholder Jon Jones. As Aspinall prepares for his inaugural undisputed title defense against France’s Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, his focus is resolutely fixed on the future of the division, leaving behind the two years of contentious pursuit and unfulfilled aspirations involving Jones.
"I’m over it," Aspinall stated in an interview with CBS Sports, reflecting a palpable desire to move beyond the saga that has dominated much of his recent career. "I’m definitely over it."
The journey to becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion has been an unconventional and often frustrating one for the 30-year-old Briton. For nearly two years, Aspinall had actively sought a confrontation with Jon Jones, widely regarded as one of mixed martial arts’ greatest fighters. Despite Aspinall’s consistent call-outs and impressive performances, Jones consistently sidestepped the challenge, often attempting to downplay Aspinall’s legitimacy as a top-tier threat. This period of strategic evasion by Jones created a vacuum of uncertainty at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division, with Aspinall frequently expressing his frustration at the inability to secure a fight against the division’s then-reigning champion.
The turning point in Aspinall’s trajectory towards undisputed status, and concurrently the height of the Jones drama, came in late 2023. At UFC 295 in November, Aspinall stepped in on critically short notice to face Sergei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title. This impromptu bout was necessitated by Jon Jones’ withdrawal from a scheduled undisputed title defense against Stipe Miocic, following a torn pectoral muscle sustained during training. Aspinall, with a professional record of 13-3 (6-1 UFC) at the time, seized the opportunity with a spectacular performance, dispatching Pavlovich via technical knockout just 1 minute and 9 seconds into the first round. Pavlovich, a formidable opponent known for his devastating power, entered the bout on a six-fight first-round knockout streak, making Aspinall’s decisive victory all the more impressive. The win not only earned Aspinall the interim heavyweight crown but also solidified his standing as the rightful heir apparent to the undisputed throne.
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Following this emphatic victory, the logical progression for the heavyweight division was a unification bout between interim champion Aspinall and undisputed champion Jones. However, the UFC opted for a different path, choosing to re-book the previously postponed Jones vs. Miocic encounter. This decision was met with considerable skepticism from fans and pundits alike. Stipe Miocic, a two-time former heavyweight champion, was 42 years old and had been inactive for over four and a half years since his last professional fight in August 2020. The perceived lack of competitive urgency in the Miocic matchup, especially when compared to the fresh challenge Aspinall presented, fueled further speculation about Jones’ reluctance to face the younger, highly athletic Briton.
The re-scheduled bout, eventually taking place at UFC 309, saw Jones comfortably defeat Miocic with a body shot knockout in the first round, 370 days after their initial booking had fallen through. While Jones retained his undisputed title, the fight did little to assuage criticisms regarding his choice of opponents. In the aftermath of UFC 309, Jones continued to dismiss Aspinall’s claims to a unification bout, instead publicly contemplating "super fights" against fighters like Derrick Lewis and Jamahal Hill, and expressing interest in a stylistic matchup against Alex Pereira. These proposed matchups were largely seen as less challenging or less relevant to the heavyweight title picture than a direct unification with Aspinall.
"I wasn’t really allowed to fight anybody," Aspinall lamented during this period of uncertainty. "I just wanted to fight."
The resolution to this stalemate arrived unexpectedly in June when Jones, without prior warning, announced a brief retirement from the sport and subsequently vacated the heavyweight title. This development, which Aspinall learned of simultaneously with the general public, effectively cleared the path for him to be elevated to undisputed champion by default. "We finally get to fight then," Aspinall recalled thinking upon hearing the news of Jones’ retirement. "Let’s move on."
Throughout the protracted pursuit of Jones, Aspinall maintained a remarkably respectful public demeanor. His most notable jab came in the form of flashing a rubber duck during a UFC broadcast, a subtle yet widely understood taunt suggesting Jones was "ducking" him. This mild act of defiance was a stark contrast to the often vitriolic exchanges common in fight promotion. Even during a face-to-face encounter with Jones, Aspinall approached the interaction not as a prelude to a brawl, but as a polite and earnest request for the opportunity he believed he had rightfully earned. His conduct reflected a commitment to his personal values rather than succumbing to the theatrical demands often associated with engaging one of MMA’s most polarizing figures.
"I didn’t actively have an idea of how I’d approach it. I approached it in my usual way," Aspinall explained. "I guess that’s just the way I am. I don’t know. I didn’t try to do anything. I was doing things the only way I know how, which is by being myself."
With the Jon Jones chapter now officially closed, Aspinall’s attention has fully shifted to his upcoming opponent, Ciryl Gane, and the task of establishing his own legacy as undisputed champion. Gane, with a professional record of 12-2 (9-2 UFC), presents a formidable challenge. The 33-year-old French fighter is a former interim heavyweight champion himself, known for his exceptional striking, fluid movement, and athleticism, which are rare for a fighter of his size. Gane previously fought for the undisputed heavyweight title against Francis Ngannou at UFC 270, losing a unanimous decision in a tactical grappling contest. He also faced Jon Jones at UFC 285 for the vacant undisputed title, succumbing to a first-round submission. His most recent outing saw him secure a dominant TKO victory over Serghei Spivac at UFC Paris, reaffirming his position as a top contender. For Gane, UFC 321 represents a critical juncture, potentially his last realistic opportunity to claim the undisputed heavyweight title and reshape perceptions of his game after two previous title fight losses.
Aspinall’s own record stands at 14-3 (7-1 UFC), with a high finishing rate demonstrating his versatility, capable of securing victories via both knockout/TKO and submission. His fighting style is characterized by fast hands, agile footwork, and a surprising ground game for a heavyweight, making him a multi-faceted threat. His sole UFC loss came against Curtis Blaydes in July 2022, a fight that ended prematurely in the first round due to a knee injury sustained by Aspinall. This injury necessitated a significant layoff, from which Aspinall made a triumphant return against Marcin Tybura in July 2023, securing a first-round TKO. He then followed this with his pivotal interim title win over Pavlovich.
Aspinall was recognized as one of the longest-reigning interim champions, a distinction that, while commendable, also underscored the prolonged period of uncertainty he endured while awaiting a unification opportunity. Now, as the undisputed champion, Aspinall is eager to shed the remnants of that limbo and forge his own path.
UFC 321 is scheduled to take place at a yet-to-be-announced venue, promising a pivotal moment for the heavyweight division. For Aspinall, it marks not just a title defense, but a symbolic liberation from the constraints of the past two years. His aspiration is clear: to be an active champion, leaving no doubt about his reign.
"I just want to fight. I want to be as active as possible. I’m going to fight as frequently as I can," Aspinall affirmed, outlining an ambitious goal of competing three times within the next 12 months. "I don’t know how that’ll look because you never know what life will throw your way. But I want to get back to what I do, and what I do is fight people."
This upcoming bout against Ciryl Gane is more than just a championship contest; it is a declaration of intent from Tom Aspinall. It signifies the beginning of a new chapter where his focus is solely on dominating the heavyweight division, free from the shadows of past rivalries, and actively shaping his own legacy as the undisputed king.
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