“It’s not the real thing,” Former two-division champion throws shade at Tom Aspinall ridiculing celebration post interim belt victory

Ex-UFC Champion Henry Cejudo goes on dismissive rant against Tom Aspinall's emotional outburst at UFC 295.

“It’s not the real thing,” Former two-division champion throws shade at Tom Aspinall ridiculing celebration post interim belt victory

Henry Cejudo disses at Tom Aspinall's celebratory victory at UFC 295 (Source: IMAGO/Twitter)

Fighter Tom Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich with a spectacular knockout punch, at UFC 295, this month. The Briton, at 14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC, was able to connect the winning shot in just 69 seconds. Jon Jones had to pull out of his scheduled heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic. So it was a short-notice substitution fight.

There were naturally a lot of emotions involved. After the win, Aspinall flipped to the mat and was in tears. However, former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo has dissed upon the notion of such a celebration.

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Cejudo believes that Aspinall overreacted after capturing the interim heavyweight title at UFC 295, in an unwarranted manner. Previously, Cejudo had also proclaimed that Aspinall vs. Pavlovich should not have reached fruition in the first place. He has been dismissive of the interim bout from the get-go. Speaking on his YouTube channel he said:

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Watching Tom Aspinall win the interim world title, he’s already celebrating...It’s an interim, Tom! Save those tears for when you actually win the real belt. Sometimes, when I see people like that, they just get too emotional after an interim belt. Yeah, you got a trophy, but they might as well dip that thing in either silver or bronze because it’s not the real thing...

In more videos on his channel, the fighter also bisected the official fight footage and on Aspinall wanting to face Jones. Aspinall said UFC undisputed heavyweight champion Jones is next, but Jones is expected to have his title fight with Miocic, once he’s fully recovered.

The fighter has undergone surgery for a torn pectoral tendon. Cejudo echoes Aspinall’s sentiments, with the title unification fight also being his preferred agenda.

Cejudo’s take on Aspinall’s celebration caught the attention of Hall of Famer Michael Bisping and active light heavyweight Anthony Smith. Bisping said on the “Believe You Me” podcast that he resonates with Cejudo’s high standards as an Olympic gold medalist and two-division UFC champion. But he thinks Aspinall had every right to be emotional.

Tom Aspinall says he will not give Ciryl Gane a shot at his interim heavyweight title

New interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has scoffed upon Ciryl Gane‘s callout after UFC 295. Aspinall, the interim champion, defeated Sergei Pavlovich with a first-round knockout. Before getting called to face Pavlovich, Aspinall had flown to Paris to watch Gane defeat Sergei Spivac.

Subsequently, the Brit wanted Gane next, but “Bon Gamin”‘s focus was solely on the fight up the ladder. But the tables have turned with Aspinall as a champion.

Tom Aspinall brutally knocked out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295
Tom Aspinall brutally knocked out Sergei Pavlovich (Source: Twitter)

Aspinall is, however, disinterested in the pairing now, as he aspires for more. Speaking to The MMA Junkie, Aspinall noted the irony in the situation, with his callout coming first. He even went a step further and suggested that Gane should fight Jailton Almeida instead. Previously, taking to X, Gane had said:

Congratulations, Tom. You are now the champion and become the one being pursued, and I am the hunter. See you soon.

Almeida, standing at 20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC, agrees with Aspinall. The Brazilian, who is unbeaten in the octagon, called out Gane after he dominated Derrick Lewis in the UFC Fight Night 231 headliner.

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