During his break from fighting, Tom Aspinall consistently stated his primary ambition was to become the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, irrespective of whether a fight against Jon Jones materialized.
Following Jon Jones` brief period of retirement, Aspinall traveled to Las Vegas to discuss his future plans with UFC officials. He admitted that facing Jones was clearly the most significant potential bout available to him. However, Aspinall expressed his belief that the division will become more dynamic as he intends to be a very active champion.
Speaking to Adam Catterall after returning to England, Aspinall commented that the heavyweight division isn`t particularly exciting “from a name point of view,” despite possessing considerable talent. He contrasted the current landscape with that of five or more years ago, when the top 15 was filled with legendary names like Fabricio Werdum, Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar, and Stipe Miocic. Aspinall noted that even as a heavyweight fighter himself, he looks at the current top 15 and finds many unfamiliar names.
He anticipates this situation will improve over the coming years, predicting more significant fights and the emergence of bigger names, which he sees as positive. Aspinall believes the division needs more promising heavyweights climbing into the top 15 rankings.
On a positive note, Aspinall revealed that the UFC has offered him a fight, which he has already accepted, signaling his imminent return to action.
Aspinall stated, “I now have a fight, which will get announced, unfortunately that`s not my job.” He expressed satisfaction at having a confirmed date and opponent to prepare for, indicating his career is finally moving forward again.
Considering the UFC`s schedule for the remainder of 2025, Aspinall is likely to compete in October, November, or December, depending on where the promotion places his fight. Potential locations mentioned for major events include Abu Dhabi in October and Madison Square Garden in New York in November.
The year`s final major event is expected in December, with signs pointing towards a return to Las Vegas for a homecoming event.
While Aspinall did not disclose specific dates, locations, or his opponent`s name, he did comment on potential matchups, with former interim champion Ciryl Gane appearing high on the list.
Regarding Gane, Aspinall mentioned they were scheduled to fight on previous occasions. He noted Gane is slightly older and began his UFC career earlier, meaning Aspinall was often looking to fight him when Gane was consistently ranked just above him.
The fight never materialized, and Aspinall claimed Gane “turned me down a couple of times,” speculating it was because Gane preferred not to fight lower-ranked opponents. Aspinall acknowledged this perspective, stating he understands why someone might avoid fighting down the rankings, especially against a risky opponent like himself. Nevertheless, he believes the fight will happen “sooner or later.”
Aspinall also responded to Jailton Almeida, who has been actively campaigning for a heavyweight title opportunity.
Aspinall praised the Brazilian fighter, saying, “I like it… I think he`s good.” He noted Almeida “looks good” despite his loss to Curtis Blaydes and added that in a division lacking numerous top-tier heavyweights, Almeida “looks decent.”
Another potential future opponent is Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov, whom Aspinall defeated via armbar submission in 2022. Since that fight, Volkov has compiled a 4-1 record, with his only recent loss being a close, somewhat controversial split decision against Ciryl Gane in December.
While Aspinall doesn`t seem to be actively seeking rematches at this moment, he definitely views Volkov as a potential opponent in the future.
Aspinall stated he “actually thought [Volkov] won the Gane fight.” He recalled knowing how “really good” Volkov was when they fought and believes Volkov has improved since then. Aspinall also feels he himself has significantly improved compared to that time, suggesting a rematch would be “interesting.”
Aspinall emphasized that no two fights are identical but highlighted the vast difference between his current self and the fighter from three or four years ago when he fought Volkov. He pointed out that their first bout was his inaugural main event and his first time competing in front of a crowd following the pandemic, making the situation “way, way different now than it was then.” Aspinall anticipates the rematch will occur at some point, believing Volkov will continue to win and climb the ranks.
Regardless of who he faces, Aspinall is simply eager to return to competition after a frustrating year away. He foresees new challenges now that he holds the undisputed UFC heavyweight title.
Aspinall concluded by mentioning there are “a few guys I`ve not fought.” He deliberately avoided naming them to prevent media sensationalism but stated, “the guys that I`ve not fought know who they are and they`re the guys that I want to fight.”
