Manchester heavyweight Tom Aspinel, who spent nearly two years at MMA’s most frustrating Limbo, has been promoted to the indisputable UFC champion, not by getting in the way but by watching John Jones leave.
Instead of ending with a phone call rather than a knockout, the British fighter belts are free to retire and move around departments instead of being adorned by the most decorated and controversial figure in UFC history, John Jones, in lieu of defending Aspinel.
Uncontroversial Heavyweight Champion – Tom Aspinoll
Tom Aspinoll, who held the provisional belt for 19 months, has spoken out about his ambitions. “What I really wanted was an indisputable title. It was something I had been chasing all along. I never really chasing one guy. John Jones was just a bonus because of the resume he has and the status he has in the sport.”
For months, Aspinel sought a unified match, shunning conversations and contracts, even if Jones renewed his comeback victory at 42-year-old Stipe Miocic. The Saga between Aspinall and Jones began in earnest when newly crowned heavyweight king Jones suffered a chest injury in the second half of 2023 and ousted him from his scheduled title defense.
Tom Aspinall stepped into UFC 295, seized the provisional belt and defended it with ruthless efficiency. However, when Jones returned, he chose to face the legendary Miocic, but not the interim champion, who had not fought for years. The UFC, the fan and the Aspinel themselves all wanted to see the two best heavyweights settled the argument in the cage. Jones refused because the reason was not fully explained.
Speculation swirled over Jones’ motives. Was he ducking aspinall? Was he protecting his legacy? Or did he simply play sports? Jones’ camp and some of his companions claimed that he had no escaping anyone, he ended up having the best fight in the world for over a decade. However, the optics were difficult to ignore. The champion who does not fight his essential challenger was held hostage by his division indecisively.
Later, as the UFC was preparing for its annual International Combat Week, Jones announced his retirement after news broke that he was facing new misdemeanor charges that allegedly left the scene of a car accident in Albuquerque earlier this year. The timing was questionable, to say the least. The incident reportedly included a conversation with a very drunk woman, a shipwreck and a police officer who refused to identify herself and created what was said to be “related to comments.”
Given Jones’ history, pregnant women, domestic violence, DUI arrests, and hit-and-runs related to multiple drug tests, the latest legal wrinkles fit neatly into the pattern of off-cage confusion. It is unclear whether this new claim has anything to do with his retirement, but it certainly did not help his already complicated legacy.
Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall is currently a heavyweight beat-hit guy. He is promised to become an active champion, and the UFC has vowed to make up for the time and money he is waiting for Jones to make up for his heart.