Islamabad, June 5, 2025: Tom Aspinall has hinted that his return to the Octagon is set, revealing he has both a date and location confirmed for his next attack. The British heavyweight made the announcement during a discussion with former UFC stars Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen, adding fuel to speculation about a potential clash with Jon Jones.
Aspinall, 32, claimed the interim UFC heavyweight belt in November 2023 by finishing Sergei Pavlovich, stepping in after Jones pulled out of his title defense against Stipe Miocic. With Jones sidelined for a year, Aspinall chose to stay active—a rarity for interim champions—and defended his strap with a swift knockout over Curtis Blaydes in July.
Although Jones returned in November to stop Miocic and retain the undisputed title, he has shown little interest in facing Aspinall. Speaking on 2 June, Aspinall expressed frustration over the stagnant state of the heavyweight division.
“People have forgotten heavyweights exist,” he said. “It’s been dead. But the active champion is ready. I’ve got the date, I’ve got the venue.”
While he didn’t confirm his opponent, Aspinall appeared to rule out Jones entirely. “Jon’s retired. You see his socials? The man’s had an amazing career. God bless him. But we need to move on.”
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Aspinall’s UFC record stands at 8-1, with all his victories coming before the final horn. He holds the distinction of the shortest average fight time in UFC history for fighters with five or more bouts—seven of his wins came in round one, with two inside 60 seconds.
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As the UFC’s late-2025 schedule fills up, fans may not see Tom Aspinall back until October, but the Wigan-born fighter seems ready to push the division forward—whether or not Jones is part of the story.
