Tom Aspinall pleads with Jon Jones for "dream fight" after UFC title win

12 November 2023 , 11:47

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Tom Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 to win the interim UFC heavyweight title

Tom Aspinall wants Jon Jones to give him his "dream fight" after winning the interim UFC heavyweight title.

Aspinall, 30, needed just 69 seconds to knockout Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main event of UFC 295 despite taking the fight on just on just over two weeks' notice. Pavlovich had months to train for the fight as he was on standby for the ill-fated undisputed bout between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, whilst Aspinall barely trained after pulling a muscle in his back before accepting the fight.

The Brit's interim title win should mean he is next in line to face undisputed champion Jones, who is arguably the greatest UFC fighter of all time. That won't be the case as UFC boss Dana White plans to reschedule Jones vs Miocic, with both men hinting at retirement after the fight.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 11: Tom Aspinall of England receives the interim heavyweight belt after defeating Sergei Pavlovich of Russia by TKO in the interim UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 295 event at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

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“I’ve seen Jon talking nice stuff about me on a podcast as well, it’s really nice. Obviously it’s always nice to hear nice things about you, but from someone like that who I massively look up to even more so. Thank you, Jon, and just give me the opportunity. Let me do it, give me my dream fight. I’ve just achieved my dream now, but give me my dream fight," Aspinall said.

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"Let me fight for my legacy now, please. I think we should do Tom Aspinall vs Jon Jones in Manchester. That is something special and I'm sure the UFC are going to be on board with that, it would be special. It doesn't have to be Manchester, but if we do the greatest fighter of all time against the UK world champion in the UK. It would be insane, let's do it."

Jones congratulated Aspinall by tweeting after his fight: "Tom congratulations on the interim heavyweight championship belt! That was an awesome performance!" The undisputed champion is currently recovering from a pectoral injury as he faces around eight months on the sidelines.

"I don't think I did much wrong for Jon to be like 'That's an easy fight', I think if I hit anybody square in the face they are going to go to sleep. Simple as that and Jon knows that. No disrespect to him because I absolutely love Jon, he is one of my favourite fighters of all time. I look up to him, but I want to fight him and I think that I can win," Aspinall added.

Harry Davies