The UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall wants to fight American Curtis Blaydes as his next opponent in the UFC.
The pair faced off back in 2022 when a unfortunate leg kick resulted in Tom getting injured and unable to continue.
With UFC heavyweight Champion Jon Jones injured and unlikely to make a comeback till the latter stage of 2024 it leaves Aspinall in a tough position.
Tom Aspinall Eyes Second Fight With Curtis Blaydes
With an unfortunate freak injury ending their first encounter, both Aspinall and Blaydes have always been keen to run it back a second time.
Speaking to OLGB Tom Aspinall said: “Jon Jones and Stipe are tied up with each other, and they’re not going to budge on that,”
“Right now, it’s in the UFC’s hands, and I’ve never been picky about my opponents. I’ve only ever told them fights I want.
“I’ve never told them fights that I don’t want. Blaydes has said he wants to fight me, and I’ve said, ‘Okay, cool, let’s do it.’ That’s it.
Aspinall Wants to Avenge Freak Loss to Blaydes
Whilst the fight was awarded as a win for Curtis Blaydes, it makes the fight “more personal” for Aspinall. He went on to say; “I’m just waiting at the minute, I’m just waiting for the call, I’m in the gym twice a day, and I’m en route to training as we speak.
“I’m ready to go whenever. I like Curtis Blaydes, but professionally, I want to beat him because he’s got a win over me when I got injured.
“I don’t know if the right word is ‘personal,’ but it is personal. But not in the way that I don’t like him as a person; it’s personal in a professional kind of way. I want to get that one back.”
Tough Situation for Aspinall
Tom Aspinall is stuck in a unfortunate position in the heavyweight division, whilst he is the interim champion he doesn’t seem to be getting a title shot anytime soon.
Whilst most interim champions fight almost immediately for the belt, it could be a while before Tom gets his chance. With Aspinall wanting to remain active, it leaves the UFC in a position where the Brit may have to defend his interim belt before getting the chance to face the winner of Jones vs Miocic.
With current Champion Jon Jones chasing a legacy fight against Stipe Miocic on his return from injury it could be 2025 before Aspinall finally get his chance at UFC gold.
Jones is competing to beat the UFC’S greatest heavyweight in Stipe Miocic which would cement his own status as the greatest of all time in the UFC’s entire history across two weight divisions.
What makes it difficult for Tom is that he has beaten most of the top 15 in the division with wins over Alexander Volkov, Marcin Tybura, and Sergei Spivac as well as the devastating first round knockout of Sergei Pavlovich which makes it difficult for the UFC to find a suitable opponent for Aspinall and one that makes sense for fight fans as well.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
