British UFC star Tom Aspinall calls out Jon Jones for Wembley showdown

British UFC star Tom Aspinall calls out Jon Jones for Wembley showdown after victory at UFC 295… but Dana White claims the American will NOT face the interim heavyweight champion in his return fight

  • British star Tom Aspinall won the UFC’s interim heavyweight title on Saturday 
  • He called out Jon Jones but UFC chief Dana White has suggested an alternative 
  • Eddie Hearn on his greatest-ever boxing venue: Listen here to The Hook

Tom Aspinall has called out Jon Jones for a showdown at Wembley Stadium, however UFC chief Dana White has suggested other plans for the American.

Aspinall became the third British UFC champion after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in the first round of their bout at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

The 30-year-old landed a powerful right hook to send Pavlovich tumbling to the floor before following up with several ground strikes to end the contest. 

In doing so, Aspinall claimed the UFC’s interim heavyweight championship – after Jones pulled out of a bout initially scheduled with Stipe Miocic due to injury. 

And, during his post-fight press conference, Aspinall made it clear that he envisions a match-up with the American for his next bout. 

Tom Aspinall called out Jon Jones after his victory in the UFC interim heavyweight title

Jones had initially been scheduled to headline the UFC 295 card but pulled out due to injury

He said: ‘I’ve seen Jon talking nice stuff about me on a podcast as well, it’s really nice. 

‘Obviously it’s always nice to hear nice things about you, but from someone like that who I massively look up to even more so. Thank you, Jon, and just give me the opportunity. Let me do it, give me my dream fight.

When pressed on where he envisions a bout with Jones taking place, Aspinall said: ‘That would be incredible. It doesn’t have to be in Manchester. 

‘But I think if we do the greatest fighter of all time versus the UK heavyweight champion of the UFC in the UK, that would be insane. Let’s do it.’

After Aspinall’s victory, Jones posted on X: ‘Tom congratulations on the interim heavyweight championship belt! That was an awesome performance!’.

Despite Aspinall’s heroics at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, UFC supremo Dana White is not convinced that Aspinall deserves a match-up with Jones. 

As mentioned earlier, Jones had originally been scheduled to fight Miocic, before pulling out due to injury.  

When asked whether Aspinall has overtaken Miocic in the race to fight Jones, White said: ‘No. You do those two [Jones and Miocic]. Those two both deserve that fight. 

Aspinall recorded a huge KO victory over Sergei Pavlovich to claim the championship belt

Despite Aspinall’s victory, White suggested that the British star will not fight Jon Jones next

‘That’s the fight they want. JJ, as soon as he heard that he was injured, went right to LA and got the surgery. He’s already in physical therapy’. 

Miocic was seen limping as he attended UFC 295 after his fight with Jon Jones was cancelled. 

Fans were quick to suggest that the heavyweight ‘would’ve been killed by Jones’ after seeing his apparent limp. 

Miocic’s last MMA fight was in 2021 when he lost to Francis Ngannou. He has won 20 fights overall and has suffered four losses.


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