Aspinall or Jones: Is Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes the real heavyweight title fight?
In the co-main event of UFC 304, just before Leon Edwards and Curtis Blaydes rematch, Tom Aspinall is defending his interim heavyweight title. With the legendary Jon Jones refusing to unify and fight the proper number one contender, many fans are saying this fight is for the true heavyweight title.
But is it? Does Tom Aspinall have a claim at the heavyweight throne or is the legacy of Jon Jones too much for that sort of a call just yet?
Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes 2: Real title?
Some may not remember, but Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes is actually a rematch. The two fought in 2020 for precisely 15 seconds before Aspinall blew out his knee. It’s his only loss in the UFC but there was nothing Blaydes did to cause the injury so there’s a bit of an asterisk by the win. The fight is unfinished business.
The main difference, however, has much higher stakes. The interim title is on the line. Curtis Blaydes, who has been in the UFC since 2016, has fought his way to the top over the years. Aspinall, who seems to be the prodigy, has not near the experience. The title being on the line and a possible date with Jon Jones will add some pizzazz to this fight. The pressure will be on the two.
The problem is the fact that after capturing the title, Jon Jones is doing absolutely nothing. He refuses to fight the sitting interim champion. Instead, the all time great decides to fight sixth ranked Stipe Miocic. The same Stipe Miocic that lost his last fight to Francis Ngannou. The same Stipe Miocic that hasn’t fought since that loss which came in 2021. He is retired for all intents and purposes.
One cannot blame Miocic for taking the fight. A shot at the heavyweight title and at Jon Jones is tantalizing and being handed the fight without having to do anything is a no brainer.
The burden lies on Jon Jones, squarely.
The best fighting the best
Tom Aspinall is the spirit of what the UFC has always been: the best fighting the best. It was the “fix” the UFC brought in a time when boxing bad this exact issue.
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic has had quite a bit of pushback from many fans. There are those that want to see it. It goes both ways. But the fans that have rejected it are rejecting the notion of this type of fight. They’re rejecting the best not fighting the best.
That’s why many fans are looking at Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes as the real heavyweight championship. Aspinall fought the number one contender in Sergey Pavlovich. Curtis Blaydes is ranked number four. He’s fighting the best and will continue to do so. If Jones does not want to fight him, then he will fight the next best until he is done.
