TOM ASPINALL - THE ROAD TO UNDISPUTED.

VIA: UFC 304 POST-FIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE

When Jon Jones withdrew from UFC 295 due to injury, the heavyweight division was thrown into chaos. But in the middle of the uncertainty, Tom Aspinall answered the call—and changed everything. Stepping in on short notice, Aspinall delivered a statement win over knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich, stopping him in just 1 minute and 9 secondswith a vicious first-round KO to claim the interim UFC heavyweight title.

It wasn’t just a win—it was a shift in momentum for the entire division.

Aspinall has been on a tear, and his game is different. Fighting out of Team Kaobon in Liverpool, the Brit brings a rare mix of speed, precision, and movement to a division usually ruled by power. He’s light on his feet, dangerous everywhere, and just keeps getting better. With a record of 15-3, including finishes over top contenders and a dominant redemption win against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, Aspinall has forced his way into the spotlight—and possibly into the next title unification bout.

After Jon Jones returned at UFC 295 to defeat Stipe Miocic, many expected the next logical matchup to be a unification bout between Jones and Aspinall. Even UFC President Dana White acknowledged it.

But there’s a wrinkle.

Jon Jones hasn’t been quick to commit to fighting Aspinall. Whether it’s timing, injury recovery, or the sheer threat that Aspinall presents, Jones has kept it vague about his return. And with the interim champ continuing to stack knockouts and climb the ranks, the question hangs in the air:

If Jones doesn’t come back, will the UFC strip the title and crown Aspinall the undisputed king?

For now, the British heavyweight waits. Patient—but ready. He’s not chasing fame or side hustles. He’s here to fight, and as he’s said himself, “I just want to be the best version of me.”

With fans rallying behind him, fighters like Paddy Pimblett calling him “the man,” and a string of highlight finishes, Tom Aspinall isn’t the future of the heavyweight division—he’s already arrived.

The only question left?
Will Jon Jones answer the call… or step aside for the new era to begin?