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Aspinall Believes Showdown with Miocic Makes "Perfect" Sense
Tom Aspinall, the interim UFC heavyweight champion, is setting his sights on a fight with Stipe Miocic while Jon Jones recovers from his injury. Aspinall recently made history with a 69-second KO of Sergey Pavlovich to claim the interim title. Now, he sees a matchup with Miocic as the best option for both fighters.
Undisputed Champ Jones' Injury Delays Division Progression
Tom Aspinall's shot at the UFC gold came as a result of Jon Jones' injury. Jones, the undisputed champion, tore his right pec just weeks before his scheduled title defense against Miocic. While the UFC plans to have Jones face Miocic next summer, Aspinall is eager to keep the division moving and believes a clash with Miocic is the right move.
Miocic's Potential Swansong Motivates Aspinall
Stipe Miocic, the former two-time champion, hasn't fought since his rematch with Francis Ngannou nearly three years ago. All signs point to Miocic's next fight being his last, which has motivated Aspinall. With a small window of opportunity, Aspinall wants to take advantage of the chance to fight Miocic before he retires.
Aspinall's Dream Scenario and the Greatest of All Time
While Aspinall's dream scenario is a stadium unification fight with Jon Jones, the uncertainty surrounding Jones' return timeline has led Aspinall to focus on Miocic. Aspinall considers Miocic to be the greatest heavyweight of all time and sees a matchup with him as the next best thing to fighting Jones for the undisputed title.
Adjusting to Life as a UFC Champion
Since becoming a world champion, Aspinall has tried to maintain a normal life and spend time with his kids. However, he's noticed a significant increase in attention and support from the local community. Aspinall appreciates the support and is still adjusting to life as a UFC champion.
