Tom
Aspinall firmly believes Jon Jones
should be stripped of the Ultimate Fighting Championship
heavyweight strap.
Aspinall recently secured interim heavyweight champion status after
defeating Russian powerhouse Sergei
Pavlovich within 69 seconds of their short notice-meeting at
UFC 295.
The original matchup that was scheduled to headline the event was a
heavyweight bout between Jon Jones and
Stipe
Miocic. Unfortunately, Jones suffered a pectoral tear a few
weeks ahead of the bout and was forced to pull out. Instead of
offering a replacement opponent to Miocic, the promotion elected to
put on an interim heavyweight title bout between Aspinall and
Pavlovich on the grounds that offering Miocic an interim title
fight would be “disrespectful.”
However, unlike Jiri Prochazkha or Jamahal
Hill, there was no mention of Jones relinquishing the title due
to his inability to compete for a considerable amount of time.
Instead, as per UFC CEO Dana White, Jon Jones vs.
Stipe
Miocic remains a priority for the promotion considering its
status as a „legacy fight: The greatest heavyweight of all time vs.
greatest mixed martial artist of all time.“
Nevertheless, Aspinall doesn’t see why a legacy fight should
involve the undisputed championship when he has already earned
himself a shot at the undisputed title.
“I think Jon Jones should be stripped from the title to be honest,
because everyone else does when they get injured like that,”
Aspinall told Michael
Bisping. “I don’t see why he’s still got it. I don’t understand
that. I think I should be the real champion right now.
“It’s hard to say without sounding rude, but who’s asked about Jon
Jones and Stipe anymore? Why do we get this legacy fight, and they
get to live by their own rules? What’s a legacy fight, a retirement
fight for a title? I want to fight Stipe and then I want to fight
Jon Jones. … I think all this other stuff is rubbish. Stop
protecting him now. Stop protecting your boy Jon Jones at the top.
If he’s injured, get out of the way and I’ll fight Stipe.”