“Is it worth?” Former two-division champion criticizes UFC’s interim title for Tom Aspinall vs Sergei Pavlovich diluting Jon Jones’ status

Henry Cejudo doesn't think the fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall should be considered the UFC interim title fight.

“Is it worth?” Former two-division champion criticizes UFC’s interim title for Tom Aspinall vs Sergei Pavlovich diluting Jon Jones’ status

Henry Cejudo and Jon Jones (Image via IMAGO)

Henry Cejudo gave his brutal opinion on the upcoming heavyweight clash between Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall. Both fighters are preparing to fight each other at UFC 295. The event will happen next weekend inside the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York. 

An unfortunate injury of Jon Jones ahead of his scheduled fight with Stipe Miocic. The promotion decided to have an interim title fight between Pavlovich and Aspinall to fill the spot. However, the former UFC double champion, Henry Cejudo, was not happy about the decision.  In one of his recent YouTube videos, the fighter said:

These are two guys that are up-and-coming, that are in their prime, that can potentially challenge a guy like Jones or Stipe, the winner of that. It is exciting, but is it worth an interim heavyweight championship of the world? No, it isn’t. I think we’re starting to dilute a little bit of what it is to actually be a UFC champion. I think this is more of a No. 1 contender spot, and I think that’s what you call it.
Henry Cejudo via YouTube
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Cejudo pointed out the formidable abilities of both Aspinall and Pavlovich. He highlighted their capacity to vie for the heavyweight title against fighters like Jones and Stipe Miocic. While acknowledging the excitement surrounding their upcoming match, he raised a valid query regarding the essentiality of categorizing it as an interim championship contest.

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Triple C recommended that the promotion should reevaluate this designation, cautioning that it might dilute the significance associated with a championship belt. Cejudo’s perspective underscores the need to preserve the value and prestige of championship titles in the sport, allowing for more meaningful and authentic championship fights.

Tom Aspinall calls out the business model of boxing as unfair and easy for top fighters 

Tom Aspinall is one of the most promising heavyweight superstars on the UFC roster and is a huge fan of boxing. The fighter has even fought one professional bout and has also helped heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in his training camps. However, when it comes to the business model of boxing, the Brit isn’t much of a fan.

tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich
Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich (Image via IMAGO)

In a recent interview with BBTV Boxing, Aspinall’s comments highlighted some common criticisms of the boxing industry. The fighter mentioned that many people have concerns about the business model, including the limited opportunities for fighters to face top-ranked opponents, uneven matchmaking, and the prevalence of fighting journeymen.

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Additionally, Aspinal also addressed issues such as drug testing and the prolonged period between fights, which are areas of concern. These criticisms reflect ongoing discussions about the state of professional boxing. Aspinal made these comments after the recent bout between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou, which shocked a lot of fight fans. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if, in the future, more and more UFC fighters decide to try boxing for more financial opportunities.

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