Both Tom Aspinall and his father are becoming increasingly frustrated by the prolonged wait for a potential fight against champion Jon Jones.
Aspinall, who holds the interim UFC heavyweight title, recently defended his belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. Meanwhile, they observed Jon Jones make his first championship defense against Stipe Miocic, a fighter who had been inactive for almost four years.
In a recent video, Aspinall`s father voiced his significant frustration.
Speaking on his son`s YouTube channel, Aspinall Sr. remarked, “It`s illogical.” He added, “I genuinely don`t understand why the UFC seems reluctant for Tom to compete against anyone other than Jon Jones.”
He explained that the message from the promotion for Tom was simply to “stay tuned.” “We met with Hunter Campbell,” he continued, “and they indicated they would attempt to finalize the fight with Jon Jones. However, here we are in April, still waiting for Jones to declare whether he will fight or not. I find this situation baffling. As a fighter, he should be competing.”
He questioned, “Why is he still waiting idly without providing a clear answer on his fight status?”
While Aspinall nears a full year of inactivity, UFC CEO Dana White maintains confidence in the promotion`s ability to arrange the Jones vs. Aspinall bout. Yet, the mixed martial arts community appears to be losing hope regarding this matchup with each passing day.
With the prospect of a fight against Jones constantly discussed, Aspinall Sr. highlighted the difficulty in planning his son`s next career step.
Aspinall Sr. pondered, “What alternative options does Tom have? He could fight opponents ranked lower than Jon Jones, but this risks him forfeiting the chance to face Jones – a truly significant opportunity given Jones` status as champion and arguably the greatest ever. A victory over him would be monumental.”
He continued, “What other choice is there besides waiting? He could fight someone ranked No. 8 right now, but why should the No. 1 contender face No. 8? It all strikes me as rather absurd.”
Naturally, competing for the undisputed heavyweight championship against a legendary figure would immensely benefit Aspinall`s legacy and finances. However, the ongoing delay is financially detrimental, particularly during the peak years of his career.
“Frankly, it`s just a tremendous hassle,” Aspinall Sr. stated. “It would be incredibly beneficial, considering he is a fighter, for him to actually have a fight. His last three bouts combined lasted only three minutes total, and while that`s the reality, we certainly need more activity.”
He concluded by emphasizing the financial aspect: “This is his profession, his livelihood, and he needs to earn income from it, especially while he is fit and healthy, instead of merely sitting around and only attending training sessions constantly.”
