Jon Jones Fight Tom Aspinall: Completing Legacy

Tom Aspinall captures UFC interim heavyweight title, throwing Jon Jones' run into question. Jones vs. Miocic fight on hold until mid-2024.

UFC 295 in New York City was highly anticipated to showcase a showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, determining the top heavyweight in the UFC. However, the spotlight unexpectedly shifted to Tom Aspinall at Madison Square Garden as he claimed the UFC interim heavyweight title with an impressive victory over Sergei Pavlovich. This unexpected turn of events raises doubts about the purpose of Jones' heavyweight campaign.

Jones has been transparent about his motivation for moving up to heavyweight, aiming to solidify his status as the Greatest Of All Time. A dominant run in a higher weight class than his original home at light heavyweight, culminating in a victory over Stipe Miocic, was his strategy to achieve this goal. However, Jones' plans were derailed by a torn pectoral, delaying the Miocic fight until mid-2024.

With Tom Aspinall emerging as the new, dominant interim champion, Jones' quest to defeat Miocic and then exit the promotion no longer holds the same weight it once did. The potential Jones vs. Miocic bout is at risk of losing its significance, potentially becoming a self-indulgent matchup between two aging legends.

Regardless of the outcome between Jones and Miocic, they will no longer be recognized as the true undisputed heavyweight champion. The title of undisputed champion now rests on the shoulders of interim champion Tom Aspinall. Failure to address this will raise serious doubts about the legitimacy of the title.

The presence of Francis Ngannou further complicates the division, casting a shadow over the potential Jones vs. Miocic matchup. Can Jon or Stipe truly be content with facing each other without unifying against Aspinall? It is imperative that pride and pressure prompt them to acknowledge that the interim title represents unfinished business that cannot be ignored.

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