Without Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall criticizes the current scenario of heavyweights in the UFC: 'I don't even know who these guys are'

Tom Aspinall is the undisputed heavyweight champion. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @tomaspinallofficial

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The scene is one of consecration, but the bitter taste of nostalgia prevails. After JJon Jones's lightning-fast retirement, Tom Aspinall doesn't hide his disappointment about the current state of the heavyweight division (up to 120,2kg) in the UFC. In an interview with the 'One on One' channel, the Briton exposed the identity crisis in MMA's most emblematic division.

“Five years ago, the value of the names in the Top 15 was incredible. Guys like Fabricio Werdum , Cain Velasquez, Dos Santos ( Junior Cigano ), Mark Hunt , Alistair Overeem , Brock Lesnar , Stipe Miocic … Now, even I, a heavyweight, look at the Top 15 and there are guys I’ve never seen fight,” said Aspinall.

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Aspinall's path to the title was marked by a game of 'cat and mouse' with Jon Jones . While 'Bones' avoided confrontation, the Englishman remained the interim champion. The bombshell came on July 21st. Dana White announced at the UFC Baku press conference that Jones was hanging up his gloves. The Englishman then revealed that he was frustrated, but wished the American the best.

At 32 years old, Tom Aspinall has a record of 15 wins and three losses. In the UFC, the fighter won the interim heavyweight title by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. Furthermore, he has already defeated names like Alexander Volkov , Andrei Arlovski , and Marcin Tybura.

Jon Jones announces return

Jon Jones rejoined the UFC anti-doping testing program this Friday (4), just 14 days after announcing his retirement. The former heavyweight champion (up to 120,2kg), buoyed by the possibility of competing at the organization's event at the White House, communicated the decision on his X account (formerly Twitter).

“I just re-entered the testing pool. That lasted about two weeks. We decided to keep all options open,” Bones wrote on his official X account.

The move reopens the possibility of the fighter challenging for the belt against Tom Aspinall , the current title holder. Jones' surprising departure from MMA had been announced by Dana White on June 21, after the UFC event in Azerbaijan.

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