Sports (Commonwealth Union) _ British Mixed martial artist Tom Aspinall has officially been raised through the ranks to hold the title as undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. The historic moment came after Jon Jones announced his official retirement. UFC President Dana White confirmed during a press conference following the Fight Night in Azerbaijan that the news has dispelled all concerns relating to the top ranks in the UFC heavyweight division.
The news also marks a significant turning point in the sport, especially in terms of the UK’s MMA standing, with Aspinall becoming only the third to claim the UFC gold, after fellow Britons Michael Bisping and Leon Edwards.
Confirming Jon’s retirement, White announced the Englishman’s new title, stating that Aspinall has “been willing to do anything—fight anyone, anywhere—and now he finally gets what he deserves.”
Already having an impressive 8-1 UFC record under his belt, Aspinall has only gone past the first round once and has maintained a perfect finishing rate.
With the heavyweight division in motion, Aspinall will be expected to defend his new title in a face-off against Ciryl Gane, a formidable opponent. Aspinall has spent a mere few minutes in Oregon since 2023 due to his busy schedule and division delays.
White also sympathised with the professional & financial toll that Aspinall has borne, commending him for having been “incredible throughout the journey”, and they would make it up to him.
The halt in the proceedings drew major criticism regarding why the UFC was authorised to have such a delay. Jones’ status as a legendary figure in the industry earned him plenty of time for recovery and for considering his options before he faced Stipe Miocic, instead of going up against Aspinall.
Despite Jones being one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, along with an undefeated UFC title bouts record, his departure from the industry makes way for a new era in the sport.
In the meantime, the UFC fight night held in Baku on June 21 provided gripping moments, with Khalil Rountree Jr pushing into the light heavyweight contention by gaining a win over Jamahal Hill. Rafael Fiziev also broke his two-year victory drought with a spectacular win against Chile’s Ignacio Bahmondes.
Curtis Blaydes claimed victory in a heavy weight clash, defeating Rizvan Kuniev right after his loss at the hands of Aspinall. However, Nazim Sadykhov delivered one of the most significant fights of the event, with a spectacular knockout win over Nikolas Notta.
Nevertheless, the attention now lies on Aspinall, who now sits at the helm of the sports with a tight grip on the MMA’s most prestigious belt.
