Showing posts with label Tom Aspinall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom Aspinall. Show all posts

Thursday, 6 November 2025

JON JONES CALL'S TOM ASPINALL'S WRESTLING AND JIU-JITSU 'INCREDIBLY OVERRATED' AFTER UFC 321

Former UFC champion Jon Jones gives a blunt breakdown of Tom Aspinall’s performance against Ciryl Gane, questioning key parts of the heavyweight’s skill set.


Jon Jones - Image credit @UFC X.com @noscripts.podcast Instagram


Jon Jones had a few sharp observations after watching the UFC 321 main event in Abu Dhabi, where Tom Aspinall defended his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane.

The bout ended early after Gane’s accidental eye poke forced officials to stop the fight, leaving fans without a clear result. Even so, Jones said he saw enough to form a harsh opinion on the reigning champion’s overall skill set.

Jones Gives His Take

During an episode of the No Scripts podcast, the former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion broke down what he noticed in the short exchange between the two contenders.

“Tom’s a great athlete, but I do feel like he’s a one-trick pony,” Jones said. “I believe that his wrestling and jiu-jitsu is incredibly overrated. He has a beautiful one-two… that’s really about it.”

Jones added that Gane appeared to be finding his rhythm before the fight ended.

“He couldn’t touch Ciryl Gane at all,” Jones continued. “That’s the way I felt. I feel like Gane was just getting warmed up.”

Jon Jones reacts to Tom Aspinall’s performance against Ciryl Gane 👀

“I believe [Tom’s] wrestling and jiu jitsu is incredibly overrated. I got to learn a lot about his patterns in his last fight. Beautiful 1-2, but that’s really about it. He couldn’t touch Ciryl Gane.”

(via… pic.twitter.com/E4tB2OcgBA

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 6, 2025

The two heavyweights have had friction before. Aspinall once accused Jones of avoiding him before the former champion vacated the belt and stepped away from competition. Jones’ latest comments only add to the ongoing tension between the pair.

After the no-contest, Dana White said a rematch between Aspinall and Gane is likely next. Some viewers thought Gane looked sharp before the stoppage, giving the rematch added intrigue.

Aspinall will now aim to deliver a complete performance that could quiet his critics — including Jones — and show that his grappling game deserves more credit.

- Jake Blend

Sunday, 22 June 2025

TOM ASPINALL INSTALLED AS UFC CHAMPION AFTER JON JONES CONFIRMS RETIREMENT


Britain’s Tom Aspinall has been upgraded to UFC undisputed heavyweight champion following the official retirement of Jon Jones.

UFC president Dana White ended months of uncertainty in the heavyweight division by delivering the news after Saturday’s Fight Night in Azerbaijan.

Aspinall spent 19 months as interim champion and is only the third Briton to become a UFC champion.

American Jones – considered one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time – had not competed since defeating Stipe Miocic in November.

“Jon Jones called us last night and retired,” White said.

“Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.

“Do I regret the time that I gave (Jones to decide)? Listen, if you look at what he’s accomplished in the sport, no.”

Aspinall had unsuccessfully campaigned to fight 37-year-old Jones.

Reacting to the news, the 32-year-old, who last fought in July, posted on Instagram: “For you fans, it’s time to get this heavyweight division going. An active undisputed champion.”

Aspinall is expected to defend his title this summer or in early autumn, with number-one contender Ciryl Gane a likely opponent.

“I obviously feel bad for Tom that he lost all that time and obviously money, but we’ll make it up to him,” said White.

“Tom Aspinall’s a good guy. He’s been incredible through this whole process.

“He’s been willing to do anything, fight him (Jones) anywhere at any time and do this, and now he’s like ‘I’ll fight anybody – you tell me who and I’ll fight them’.”

- PA

Wednesday, 30 October 2024

TOM ASPINALL SENDS MESSAGE TO JON JONES AFTER SENSATIONAL 60-SECOND KO AT UFC 304

Aspinall scored another blistering stoppage winCredit: Getty

Tom Aspinall has predicted his winner for Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic and revealed remarkable plans for his post-UFC endeavours.

Aspinall is the UFC’s interim heavyweight champion, which he claimed by overcoming Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023.

Many felt Aspinall should have been squaring off with full heavyweight champion Jon Jones next.

But instead 'Bones' is expected to duke it out with Stipe Miocic at the back end of this year.

Taking to the mic in the immediate aftermath of his statement victory, Aspinall sent a message to his rival.

"Hello Jon, I have nothing against you personally," he said.

"But I just think I'm better than you. I just know I can beat you fight in a fight, so I'm coming for you."

In beating Blaydes, Aspinall avenged the only loss of his UFC career.

The Brit blew out his knee in the opening 15 seconds of their inaugural encounter back in July 2022, resulting in an inconclusive TKO loss.

He will now wait for his opportunity to fight the winner of Jones vs Miocic, which is reportedly taking place in November.

Aspinall has been campaigning relentlessly for a fight with Jones since winning the interim crown against Sergei Pavlovich last November.

Growing frustrated by a relative newcomer repeatedly calling him out, Jones took to social media in January to rip into Aspinall’s record.

“Only four recognisable opponents, and already the king of England, must be nice," he tweeted.

"There will be legendary tales told about you and your infamous call outs.

“I was a champion when I was 23 years old, you can’t show up at age 30 pretending like you’ve been chasing me your whole life.

"I have no clue who 90 per cent of his résumé is, meanwhile, I’ve been highlighting UFC events my entire career.

“It’s a wild world we live in! People can be so quick to try to replace you, throw you away, discredit your work.

"That’s the best thing about them stats or just being able to see the fruits of your labor.

“Be an absolute savage at what you do, at whatever capacity that may be.

"Let the work speak for itself, be undeniable in this world ladies and gentlemen. Be absolutely undeniable.”

Provided Jones comes out unscathed against Miocic, we could finally see him take on Aspinall in 2025.

- George Glinski

Sunday, 23 July 2023

ASPINALL KO'S TYBURA, SETS SIGHT ON UFC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

Reuters 

British heavyweight Tom Aspinall made a triumphant return to MMA with a devastating first-round knockout of Marcin Tybura in the main event of Saturday's UFC Fight Night at the O2 Arena, almost a year to the day after tearing his MCL.

Aspinall's last visit to the octagon ended after just 15 seconds of his bout against Curtis Blaydes as his knee gave out, and he almost brought his comeback fight to a close at the same mark with a head kick that wobbled his Polish opponent.