“Everything Was Against Me…” ‘Real’ Heavyweight Champ Tom Aspinall Reflects on Best Career KO Before Rumored Unification

Away from a Jon Jones PPV title unifier, Tom Aspinall names favorite KO of his UFC tenure.

“Everything Was Against Me…” ‘Real’ Heavyweight Champ Tom Aspinall Reflects on Best Career KO Before Rumored Unification

Tom Aspinall relishes on Sergei Pavlovich KO, away from Jon Jones fight (Source: X)

In November of 2023, Tom Aspinall got a last-minute summons to be the saving grace against Sergei Pavlovich. The prime PPV spotlight live from Madison Square Garden, NY, featuring HW Jon Jones at UFC 295 had fallen through due to a pectoral tear. Enter Aspinall, who took matters into his own hands with a splendid KO to etch his name in history!

Jon Jones had stalled a heavyweight move after three years of prep time for his UFC 285 PPV card ballot appearance. At the time, a 265-pound scrapper, when ‘Bones’ was again injured, thus lacked any kind of top-heavy charm.

Hence, Tom Aspinall fought for/won the interim HW strap; a prize dragging on till now with no PPV unification in sight. However, given the circumstances, the Brit finds the events as one of the best. That’s what he mentioned in a recent media interview with FIGHTROOM (@fightroom9794 on YT).

Probably Pavlovich [has to be my best KO]...I took the fight on short notice, I wasn’t in shape, flew across the world. Like, everything was against me in that fight, and I still managed to do it...At that time, Pavlovich was on a six-fight, first-round knockout streak.

Aspinall closed the chapter on Sergei Pavlovich with a first-round shattering knockout — 69 seconds in! It’s one of the best attributes of the Team Kaobon fighter, per statleaders.ufc.com (UFC Record books). His docking least bottom position and averaging first-round KOs make him a staunch skills test that might just be the answer to Jon Jones and his longevity. However, the champ himself is less than fond of it and has stalled it out.

Aspinall is even the longest-reigning interim champ in active UFC competition since that fateful November of 2023. However, said PPV title unification vs. Jones is yet to come. Talking of superb KOs and Aspinall, one MMA voice rated Aspinall the future of the division, more than Jones.

Joe Rogan once hopped over Jon Jones to crown rival as best generational HW through stretch of division

Veteran UFC color commentator Joe Rogan and his admiration for the tactile Jon Jones are well documented. However, Rogan once pitched 32-year-old Brit Aspinall as the generational standout in the division; a mark of the true best heavyweight even.

Tom Aspinall named generational talent at heavyweight, not Jon Jones
Tom Aspinall named generational talent at heavyweight, not Jon Jones (Source: X)

Jon Jones was a bona fide name that picked his prey and delivered; his target package, though, was at 205 pounds at the time. He was yet untested at 265 pounds, barring a sensational debut at UFC 285. He defeated Stipe Miocic via third-round TKO (punches), 4:29 marks, much later, at the UFC 309 PPV event headliner.

At the time, Aspinall had more billed appearances at heavyweight. Sergei Pavlovich touted six consecutive first-round KO victories that cemented him as a top star. But Aspinall ran through the Russian, about a minute in. On the ‘JRE’ Show #2063 – PowerfulJRE (@joerogan) with Dwayne Johnson, Rogan thus pitched Aspinall as the forerunner of the division.

Tom Aspinall, the guy who just won the interim title, ...he's phenomenal and he is again the next advancement of the evolution of the sport...He can do everything, that guy's got elite jiu-jitsu, he's got elite takedowns, his striking is outstanding! I mean he knocked out Sergei, who's the scariest striker in all of MMA and he knocked him out in the first round and the way he did it was just picture perfect and he did it with a fu*ked up back.

Jones has had dwindling support from even hardcore fans and purists wanting to see this matchup and how he fares against the current crop. Meanwhile, Aspinall logged another win and has been proving his worth. He exited the PPV co-headliner in Manchester with a first-round TKO over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 last year. However, his momentum is currently a bit stalled.

He recently admitted he’s done waiting for a Jones PPV super fight with endless delay. However, the Brit has been keeping to it and stays ready if the summons comes in again. As such, it will be interesting if he can have the same performative standards against someone like Jones!

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