Delay in Jon Jones fight, blessing in disguise for Tom Aspinall as heavyweight star reveals suffering a virus attack

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall opens up about suffering from multiple illnesses while waiting for the Jon Jones fight.

Delay in Jon Jones fight, blessing in disguise for Tom Aspinall as heavyweight star reveals suffering a virus attack

Tom Aspinall shares his struggles with illness while he waits for Jon Jones' fight (via Imago)

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has held onto that title for more than 530 long and challenging days now. The UK native has still not received the long-awaited opportunity to fight Jon Jones for the unified heavyweight championship title. Although the constant delays and painful waiting have been extremely frustrating, it has not been the only major challenge he has faced.

This year, the determined fighter also had to endure difficult personal struggles outside the octagon, testing his resilience tremendously. Aspinall recently posted a video to his YouTube channel where he and his father talked about the delay in matchmaking. He also shared details about his constant health hazards, which have hindered his training since last year.

I have a couple of courses of antibiotics and stuff like that, but it has made me look in depth, medically, with what’s going on, because I keep picking up viruses. Usually used to get it like once a year, it was just a head cold or whatever, but I’ve been like really ill, bedbound of couple of times. I have had ringworms quite a few times and minor skin infections a couple of times, and these are what you usually get when you’re immune system is low. 

Tom Aspinall via his YouTube channel 

Aspinall won the interim title by brutally knocking out Sergei Pavlovich, then defended it successfully against Curtis Blaydes. Despite this, he was overlooked for a title shot as Jones prioritized fighting Stipe Miocic instead. After defeating the 42-year-old at UFC 309, Jones faced heavy criticism for avoiding a younger, dangerous contender like Aspinall.

Jones ignored the criticism, focusing instead on a blockbuster fight against Alex Pereira, but his plans collapsed after UFC 313. Afterward, Jones demanded a six-month preparation window along with an extraordinary $30 million payout to face Tom Aspinall. The combination of Jones’ demands and the UFC’s inefficient negotiation tactics has led to a frustrating delay in the title fight.

Former UFC champion advises Tom Aspinall against Jon Jones 

Jon Jones is considered the most successful UFC fighter, holding victories over legends like Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, and Shogun Rua. His incredible undefeated streak, dominance across generations, and ability to adapt against various styles have cemented his all-time great status. For Tom Aspinall, beating a legendary figure like Jones would skyrocket his career, proving his greatness and solidifying his legacy permanently.

UFC veteran shares his opinions on Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones' situation
UFC veteran shares his opinions on Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones’ situation (via X)

Such a victory would be more than a title; it would mark Aspinall as a historic, generational talent forever remembered. While many experts still pick Jones to beat the UK native, the risks involved against a powerful Aspinall are undeniable. However, according to UFC veteran Georges St-Pierre, the interim champion cannot spend all his focus and energy on this one fight.

I think Tommy needs to focus on the next task… If he’s only focusing on Jon Jones and if Jon Jones does not come back right away, he’s not focusing on the right thing. He needs to focus on what is next, the next path, because the rest, it’s a distraction…I understand Tom, from his point of view, that he’s a proud fighter, he wants to beat the best, but now it all depends on what Jon wants to do.

Georges St-Pierre via The Ariel Helwani Show 

St-Pierre gave his example of stressing over his retribution fight over Matt Serra, which he ultimately achieved at UFC 83. While GSP’s opinions are spot on, it’s important to say that the UFC isn’t letting Aspinall fight anybody else. On top of that, there aren’t many top candidates who are suitable to fight Aspinall for the interim championship.

The UFC heavyweight division isn’t as dominating and stacked as it used to be in the past. Many experts have publicly shown concern about this, questioning the future of this weight class. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to see how the promotion fixes this ongoing drama in the upcoming months.