“Embarrassing from UFC” – Fans disgusted as Tom Aspinall breaks infamous record waiting for Jon Jones

Rising superstar Tom Aspinall sets unwanted UFC record with long overdue PPV title unification crack at champion Jon Jones.

“Embarrassing from UFC” – Fans disgusted as Tom Aspinall breaks infamous record waiting for Jon Jones

UFC record set by Tom Aspinall awaiting unification with Jon Jones (Souce: X/IMAGO)

Tom Aspinall bagged an interim strap back on the UFC 295 PPV card. The Brit had clamored, teased, baited, and did much more for a PPV title unification since then. True heavyweight beltholder Jon Jones is yet to go the definitive route on it. However, the damage has been done. Aspinall’s wait for heavyweight unification has gone from attention-seeking banter to tedious to historic!

Tom Aspinall has indeed made history since bagging the gold on November 11, 2023; the longest-reigning UFC interim champ as of this Tuesday. The 31-year-old sits on a chance to unify the divisional gold vs. UFC heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones, 535+ days after becoming interim champion.

Past 135-pound champion Renan Barao set the previous record more than 11 years ago. The Brazilian defeated Urijah Faber at UFC 149 on July 21, 2012, to win the secondary belt in the absence of Dominick Cruz. This was due to an injury.

‘Bones’ was also out on a pectoral tear when the Brit grabbed the gold. But, as is the norm, historian of war Jon Jones deemed Aspinall a fledgling name. Some other veterans/analysts stuck to the purport that Tom Aspinall isn’t a big enough name to give Jones a legacy retirement should he roll that way. The interim champ even made a rare title defense at the PPV in Manchester last July.

With a first-round TKO of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, Aspinall has gone to war for unification. Lately, there have been positive signs of a negotiation phase for it. During the thrilling aftermath of UFC on ESPN 66, CEO Dana White reaffirmed that Aspinall vs. Jones was still happening, but no date as of now. With Aspinall crossing a tedious threshold, though, fans are getting icky about the wait. They have reacted to it as such.

Fight fans react to Tom Aspinall crossing 535 days as HW interim champ without title unification

Jon Jones has been degrading his GOAT status with his unlawful run-in history, DUIs, aggression, injury-induced absence, and the like. Tom Aspinall has waited on the bench for quite a long while now, without any unification.

UFC fans react to 535 ominous days without Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones
UFC fans react to 535 ominous days without Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones (Source: X)

Jones stalled the ebb for a few more months since last November, asking “f—k you” amount for PPV unification efforts. He then yet again asked a six-month prep time for it; something even opposing forces and big industry voices have supported as a good course.

All signs point towards a PPV super fight vs. Tom Aspinall. IFW festivities drop in hot on 26 June in Las Vegas with the return of UFC X and Hall of Fame ceremonials. Fans have been clamoring for this fight as a part of the UFC 317 PPV IFW showcase. Yet, this week marked a historic number of days Aspinall has dragged on without the intervention of a matchup news. Here is what fans think about it:

Safe to say, the responses have not been kind to Jones or his dwindling reputation. With no concrete reason for a lack of booking, the UFC brass got some flak as well. A prime reaction (@lebrondagoatfr) billed it as “embarrassing from the ufc” side of things. All in all, it does not bode well for Aspinall and the state of the division altogether.

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