Tom Aspinall is focusing on what lies ahead as the latter half of 2025 approaches. The interim heavyweight champion has not yet booked his first fight of the year, but it appears progress is being made towards scheduling his next opponent. Aspinall is eager to compete again, whether it`s against UFC champion Jon Jones or another top contender, and it seems he will do so with the full support of UFC CEO Dana White.
Following UFC 316, White commented on the ongoing Jones-Aspinall situation. While acknowledging he wasn`t fully updated on all the developments, White made it clear that Aspinall is “the guy” and expressed his continued desire for a heavyweight championship unification bout.
Aspinall was pleased to hear the positive feedback from the UFC boss.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aspinall stated, “I think a lot of people come out and they see what I’ve said and they think it’s some kind of media stuff. Listen, I don’t do that kind of stuff. If I’m going to come out and say something, it’s going to be informed information.”
He added that while he couldn`t make official announcements, news about his next step is forthcoming. “As I’ve said a couple of times, not for me to say. That’s beyond my pay grade, I don’t announce no fights, I don’t announce no UFC news or nothing like that. But there is some coming, there’s definitely some coming. Dana White says I’m his man, we love that. And I’m going to go and prove that pretty soon, so it’s coming.”
Separately, Jon Jones recently engaged in extensive tweeting, reiterating his dismissal of Aspinall as a suitable challenger. He also commented on rumors regarding former UFC champion Francis Ngannou`s potential return, calling a hypothetical bout against Ngannou “a real superfight” and “a clash of champions, not just hype.”
While White has publicly shut down the possibility of Ngannou returning, Aspinall still considered how a fight against the former champion might unfold.
Aspinall reaffirmed his unwavering readiness to fight anyone the UFC presents. “I’ve said plenty times the day that I start ducking out of fights and turning opponents down and start turning opponents down and stuff like that is the day that I’m going to retire,” Aspinall said. “As I’ve always said, and you can ask any promoter that I’ve ever worked with, any guys at the UFC, I’ll fight anyone, I’ll fight anytime, and I’ll fight anywhere. Never turned down a fight in my life. Never will.”
He concluded by solidifying his stance: “The day that I start thinking about turning down fights is the day that I’ll retire, so to answer the question, whoever they want me to fight is who I’m going to fight.”
