Tom Aspinall would have rather fought for the UFC | MMA News
When Jon Jones‘ retirement was made official, then-interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall was elevated to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. While his aim all along was to turn out to be the champion, the 28 year-old would have rather fought for it.
“To be honest, I would have rather fought for it, of course. I did defend the interim which is a weird thing as well,” Aspinall advised UFC.com. “I always saw myself as the champion anyway. I think the whole Jon Jones thing is a bit weird. Everybody can see that was a very strange situation, but luckily now that is in the past and we can move on.”
“Obviously I had an inkling that Jon Jones was going to retire and they’re going to move forward and I’m going to be the champion,” continued Aspinall. “I would have rather fought for it. I would rather take the title from the champion, but I honestly believe that I was already a champion in may own right anyway… I’m just relieved that it’s over and we can move forward.”
Related: Holly Holm weighs in on teammate Jon Jones’ retirement
Aspinall was never chasing a struggle with Jon Jones, although he would have beloved to have a win over Jones on his resume. Aspinall was chasing the undisputed championship.
“I was never actually chasing Jon. I was chasing the heavyweight title,” Aspinall mentioned. “Don’t get me wrong, Jon Jones would have been an amazing scalp to have on record, but the opponent, the guy standing across from me never mattered. Never has mattered. Never will matter. What was important to me was being the best in the world. The other stuff is pretty irrelevant. Like I said, it would have been a great scalp that would have propelled me more than any other fight but a fight’s a fight. I’m not too bothered.”
Now formally the undisputed heavyweight champion, Aspinall awaits his first title protection. He did not present the title of an opponent or a date different than to say, ‘It’s going to be soon.’ If issues work out, he’d like to struggle twice before the finish of the yr.
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