Tom Aspinall – “Jon Jones should be stripped from the title”
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall does not like the idea that current champion Jon Jones is receiving what he feels is special treatment from the UFC.
“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 former UFC middleweight champion 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.”
Jones is currently sitting on the sidelines as his surgically repaired torn pectoral muscle is rehabbed.
The champion was supposed to defend his title in the UFC 295 main event against former champion Stipe Miocic. When Jones was injured, both fighters were pulled from the card.
Aspinall would get the opportunity of a lifetime as he was called in on short notice to face Sergei Pavlovich for the interim title. When the Englishman claimed the title, it left questions as to whether the potential Jones vs. Miocic fight would ever happen or if Aspinall should challenge Jones when returns.
“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.”
