With UFC 317 approaching and no main event yet announced, Din Thomas expressed his hope that the promotion has a clear plan.
Speaking recently to MMA Junkie, the UFC analyst discussed how the June 28 pay-per-view in Las Vegas, set to headline UFC`s yearly International Fight Week, could be solidified if matchmakers schedule interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to compete.
Aspinall, ranked as the top heavyweight globally, is awaiting his next bout after successfully defending his interim belt against Curtis Blaydes in July 2024. Since securing the interim title at UFC 295, he`s aimed for a showdown with undisputed champion Jon Jones, who has repeatedly expressed reluctance to face the British fighter.
Regardless of Jones`s involvement, Thomas feels Aspinall should be the central figure for UFC 317.
“I believe Tom Aspinall absolutely must be featured on this card,” Thomas stated. “He`s the heavyweight champion – how could you not include him? He wants to fight this summer. I really think Aspinall needs a spot. Whether it`s against Jon Jones, Ciryl Gane, or Derrick Lewis, I`m not sure, but International Fight Week needs to start with Tom Aspinall facing someone.”
Thomas later suggested, “My prediction is they will persuade Tom Aspinall to fight Ciryl Gane. If I had to bet, that`s the fight I`d pick… we`re only two months away, and I expect they`ll offer Ciryl Gane a significant amount. It might not be his first choice, but they`ll likely make an offer too good to decline, and that seems like the most logical pairing.”
Both Aspinall and Gane have exchanged words publicly regarding a potential bout, but no official steps have been taken. Gane is riding a two-fight win streak, his last fight in December resulting in a debated split decision victory against Alexander Volkov.
Jon Jones`s last appearance was in November at UFC 309, where he easily defeated heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic. Their planned rematch in November 2024 was cancelled due to a pectoral injury suffered by Jones. The UFC opted to keep the Miocic fight scheduled for whenever Jones returns, leaving Aspinall and others in the heavyweight division waiting for their opportunity at the undisputed championship.
The reasons behind the delay in a potential Jones vs. Aspinall fight remain uncertain, whether it`s due to Jones requesting more money and preparation, the UFC hesitating to book it, or factors related to Aspinall. However, Thomas dismisses the idea that Jones genuinely needs more time to prepare for Aspinall.
“I don`t believe Jon Jones will ever take that fight,” Thomas stated. “But the strange part is, he claims he needs more preparation time. Yet, this potential matchup hasn`t been a secret; we`ve known for at least two years, even before the Stipe fight, that he would eventually face Tom Aspinall. So, if he had any expectation of this fight happening, why wouldn`t he already be preparing? He should have been mentally ready for this possibility.”
“Therefore, with each passing moment, my suspicion grows that Jon is simply delaying and might never actually accept this fight.”
Jones has previously demanded a substantial sum, often referred to as `f*ck you` money, to fight Aspinall, complicating negotiations. Thomas, who competed in 36 professional fights, feels Jones is justified in valuing himself highly.
“This highlights the issue of fighter leverage,” Thomas commented. “Fighters endure significant challenges to reach prominence, and very few gain the power to dictate terms. Conor McGregor and Jon Jones are among that small group. Once they are in a position to manipulate the situation, they will. They think, ‘After everything you put me through, now it’s your turn to deal with it.’
“And they have indeed put us through it. Jon has kept us waiting, Conor has kept us waiting, and now we have to accept it because we granted these individuals ultimate leverage. They hold all the power now.”
Thomas also addressed a recent ESPN MMA graphic that questionably highlighted the duration of Jones`s heavyweight title reign. He noted that the graphic appeared to disregard interim champion Aspinall and failed to mention that Jones has defended his title only once.
“Undisputed?” Thomas queried. “And the longest reign? It shows how statistics can be twisted to present something favorably. I’m not being critical; I’m just stating the facts as I see them. I always speak plainly. I don’t dislike Jon; I consider him the greatest of all time. However, nothing lasts forever, including a championship reign. Once it ends, people tend to embellish the figures to make them appear more impressive, which is precisely what`s happening now.”
“These statistics, the situation, and the narrative are being skewed to make things look better than they are. The truth is, he defeated Stipe and won the title from Ciryl Gane, who seemed terrified of him. He hasn`t had a dominant run through the heavyweight division, destroying opponents.”
