UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall predicts the epic showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic come November 15th – as he eagerly waits as a back up dancer. He also speaks on possibly challenging Alex Pereira in the future – claiming it will be the hardest fight of the Light heavyweight Champions life.
Speaking to CasinoHawks, Aspinall said:
Younger and Fresher Jon Jones will be beat Stipe Miocic
I will be the hardest fight of Alex Pereira’s life
I’m not getting my hopes up that I will replace either Jon Jones or Stipe at UFC 309
Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev would be elite
If Jones and Miocic retire, I will face Gane or Volkov next
I’m not interested in Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul
Younger and Fresher Jon Jones will beat Stipe Miocic
I don’t know if it’s anything tactical; I just think he’s younger and fresher than Stipe. Stipe is around 43 years old and hasn’t fought in like four years. He got knocked out in his last fight and wasn’t looking very good in it, and that was years ago now. Surely Stipe – unless he’s some kind of physical freak of nature – can’t start getting physically better in his forties after being knocked out a few times and having a million fights. Who knows? Maybe he’s going to surprise us all, but from a logical perspective, I don’t think it’s really possible to improve physically in your early forties.
I will be the hardest fight of Alex Pereira’s life
I think it’s a tough fight, to be honest. I don’t see it as an easy fight at all. I think it’s a lot harder stylistically for me than a lot of the fights at heavyweight. But he’s going to have to carry my weight. If you’ve got 120 kilos smothering you, that’s not easy for him. If you’re the smaller guy, that’s not going to be an easy night.
Me and Alex, it’s a big fight, but it depends on what he wants to do. I think I’ve made it pretty clear I want to fight anybody, but he doesn’t really have to risk moving up. If he doesn’t want to, it’s completely up to him.
If Jones and Miocic retire, I will face Gane or Volkov next
Well, I’d like to fight this year, but I don’t think it’s gonna happen because of the logjam at the top with them two [Jones and Miocic]. So I think we’re probably looking at early next year, hopefully. Realistically, it should be the winner of Jon and Stipe, but I think they’ll retire, so I think it’s more likely to be the winner of Cyril Gane and Volkov. That seems like the logical perspective, but whether that happens or not, I don’t know.
I’m fit to fight right now to be honest. I could fight this weekend if I needed to. I’m always there or thereabouts. I only need a few weeks to get ready for a fight. I train twice a day regardless, so it’s just the intensity I need to increase. I’m not one of these guys who gets fat or goes to parties between fights. I’m ready to fight most of the time.
Alex Pereira should take on Magomed Ankalaev next!
First of all, I think he’s a really good fighter; I think he’s elite level. How would he look at heavyweight? I’d be guessing. He’s originally a middleweight and has moved up to light heavyweight, but I don’t know how he would fare at heavyweight. I’d honestly be guessing, but he’s a really good fighter.
Stylistically, the matchups he’s had recently favored his style. That’s not really his fault. I think it’ll be interesting to see if he can still get the same shots off when the threat of a takedown is there regularly. Because, at the top level, everyone can do everything now; you can’t just be good in one area. But there are definitely grappling-heavy guys like Ankalaev – then guys he’s been fighting, like Roundtree, who haven’t taken anyone down in their UFC careers. Someone like Ankalaev would be an interesting fight. I’d like to see that. I reckon it’s about 60-40 in favor of Pereira.
I’m not getting my hopes up that I will replace either Jon Jones or Stipe at UFC 309
I mean, not yet. I think they’ll do everything they can to make it to the fight, so i’m not getting my hopes up or anything. This is probably the last fight for both of them before they retire. They’ll make a lot of money, so I’m just doing my thing. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I’m happy either way.
I’ll leave Jon to it. He’s got a big fight on his hands. I’ll wish him all the best if I see him, but I’m respectful of his fight week. I’m leaning more towards Jon, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Stipe won either. I’d probably say it’s like 60-40 in favor of Jon. It would be a lot of fun if Stipe won. But I’ll be there for fight week, the build-up, and everything. I’ll definitely be there for that event.
Training as a backup fighter is weird, Anything can happen!
It affects it quite a bit. Usually, I’m working towards someone specific, watching film on people, figuring out what I should and shouldn’t do. This time, I’m just getting myself in shape to fight somebody if needed. It’s a little different tactically, but in terms of getting physically ready, it’s not that different. I’m just getting ready to fight.
I’ve prepared for a lot of fights. Tactically, it’s a struggle if I don’t know who I’m fighting, but the mental and physical I’ll be fine with. I’ve had loads of fights, so preparing mentally and physically isn’t an issue. Tactically, at the end of the day, if I hit you, I can knock you out. I’ve always got that in my back pocket.
Anything can happen before UFC 309, I’m prepared to fight Jon or Stipe
No, I’m not doing any of that. I’m just focusing on myself. Anything can happen. I always have a bit of a tactical approach, but you never know what someone else will do. I’m just covering all bases best I can. I’ve trained for loads of fights. It’s just another training camp. I’ll be as prepared as I have been before. I’ve got about six weeks left until the date. I just finished sparring — nine 5-minute rounds this morning. I’m in a good spot physically and ready to fight.
Cyril Gane vs Volkov is a 50/50 fight
I think it’s a 50-50 fight. I know they fought before, and it was an absolute stinker—the first one was terrible. Since I fought Volkov, he’s improved a lot. He’s changed his training situation, and Gane has been inactive. Gane seems to fight once a year against opponents who suit him quite well. It’s hard to say; Volkov has been very active. I think he fought four or five times since we fought a couple of years ago, which is a lot for an elite heavyweight. I still think it’s a close fight, though, because I believe Gane is very good and smart, but I think it’ll be a lot closer than the last one, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Volkov pulled it off.
I’m not interested in Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul
As far as Mike Tyson goes, if I see a 60 year old training on social media I’m just going to keep scrolling past it.
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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