Tom Aspinall on potential fight with Jon Jones – “I think he has a lot of miles on the clock, and I have to use that to my advantage”
Casino Canada spoke with UFC star Tom Aspinall ahead of his interim heavyweight title fight against Sergei Pavlovich who previewed his upcoming clash in New York.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones was supposed to headline the UFC 295 in a title defense against former champion Stipe Miocic.
Jones unfortunately was injured while training for fight and needed to undergo surgery that will sideline him for an extended period of time.
As a result, an interim bout between Aspinall and Pavlovich was added to the card at Madison Square Garden.
Aspinall spoke about the potential of facing Jones for the official title down the road should he defeated Pavlovich.
I = Interviewer, TA = Tom Aspinall
I: Can Jon Jones return from his injury and be the same fighter?
TA: “Jon Jones is an absolute freak athlete but that goes without saying with what he has achieved in his career. It’s just whether he still wants it but I don’t know Jon personally. He’s got a big injury, and they are saying it’s going to take one year to come back before he is even training. Will he want to start again at 40 years old? I don’t know where he is mentally about coming back. He wanted the Stipe fight of course but I want Jon Jones. He is one of my heroes and I’d love an opportunity to fight him before he retires.”
I: Do you see any weaknesses in Jones as a heavyweight?
TA: “I can’t see any at this point. If you look at a lot of Jon Jones’ fights, a lot of guys he’s fought are ones that he has fought at middleweight. If he is fighting a heavyweight like me who is bigger than him then that is the advantage I have got over him, but it is hard to look at the 25 or 30 fights he’s had and find weaknesses. He is absolutely incredible.”
I: How would you beat Jon Jones?
TA: “I believe I can beat him otherwise I wouldn’t be asking for the fight. I’d never take a fight I didn’t think I could win. I’m a lot younger and a lot fresher than him. I think he has a lot of miles on the clock, and I have to use that to my advantage. I believe I am slightly more athletic and bigger than him but it’s hard to look through his resume and say he has any holes. I can’t say enough good things about Jon Jones’ MMA game, it’s incredible.”
I: Do you think Jones has ever fought anyone with your power before?
TA: “No, I am a natural heavyweight who is 6ft5ins, 120kg+, I’m 30 years old, really quick for a heavyweight and I move different to a lot of the guys he’s fought. I’m quicker than a lot of the light heavyweights never mind a guy who is bigger than him and that’s what I possess compared to the other guys he’s fought. I’d love to test it because I’d be confident that I win that fight.”
