UFC interim-heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has revealed he’s getting into training camp in the hopes of stepping in to replace Stipe Miocic against current titleholder Jon Jones later this year.
Though nothing is official at this stage the talk has been that Jones vs. Miocic may well take place at UFC 309 in New York City on November 16th, and if nothing else Aspinall is hoping to serve as the back-up fighter for the event.
“I’m back training,” Aspinall said on YouTube. “I started ticking a little bit in the gym again, preparing for the rumored fight – which isn’t confirmed yet – which is obviously Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, New York City.
“Like I said, this fight hasn’t been confirmed, but after my last fight with Curtis Blaydes, there was some talk about being the backup fighter. The UFC spoke to me directly about that. I said, ‘I’m in. Somebody pulls out, I’m in.’”
However, yesterday Aspinall also teased a potential new twist in the tale by claiming he was hearing rumors that Miocic might be injured.
“Like, I said, these are just rumors at this point,” Aspinall said. “There’s a lot of talk, but there’s nothing announced yet. These are all rumors. I’m hearing rumors that Stipe is potentially injured. This is stuff I’m hearing from the inner circle.
“Stipe, I believe his birthday was yesterday (Aug. 19), he’s 42 years old. Jon Jones, a million miles on the clock, he’s going to be injury prone.
“Me, I’m ready to go, lad. I’m not even in my prime yet. I’m hungry for it, lad. I’m not sure these two guys are, but I am, and I’ll fight either of them for the undisputed title on any notice. I’m ready.”
Don’t get too excited though, former champion Miocic has since responded, declaring it “fake news.”
Meanwhile, Ariel Helwani has confirmed from his sources that Aspinall’s claim doesn’t hold water.
“I’m told the rumor that Stipe Miocic is injured and out of the Jones fault (fight) is 100% not true,” Helwani wrote on X.
Nonetheless, it does make sense for Aspinall to stay in shape as it’s always possible that one of the two veterans does pick up an injury ahead of fight night. Whether either Jones or Miocic would actually be willing to fight Aspinall instead is another matter though.
