Aspinall Faces Mental Struggles Amid Jones Title Fight Delays

Oklahoma City, OK – Tom Aspinall, the interim UFC heavyweight champion, has revealed that the ongoing delays for a title unification match against Jon Jones have been mentally tougher than any challenge he has faced in his career.

Aspinall has been on the sidelines for nearly a year, with his last bout being an interim title defense. The British fighter has been waiting for an announcement for a clash with Jones, who has hinted at retirement but continues to engage with fans on social media.

In a recent interview, Aspinall compared this period of inactivity to his past struggle with a career-threatening knee injury he suffered during a fight against Curtis Blaydes in 2022. “It was obviously devastating to get injured in front of everybody,” Aspinall said, adding that he spent more than a year in rehabilitation.

“Now, I’ve been almost a year inactive with no prospect of anything apart from wait,” he said. “That’s actually a little bit more of a tricky time for me mentally than it was then.” Aspinall has been keeping busy by training and helping teammates prepare for their fights.

Despite being inactive, Aspirnall trains extensively with GLORY kickboxing world champion, Rico Verhoeven, who is set to compete at GLORY 100 in the upcoming weeks.

The heavyweight division has been in a state of limbo due to Jones’ reluctance to face Aspinall. UFC CEO Dana White expressed confidence in making the fight happen, while many fighters have voiced their support for Jones despite the frustration of fans.

Javier Mendez, a coach with extensive experience, shared insights on why Jones may be hesitant to fight Aspinall. “Jon Jones is not the type of guy that likes to lose,” Mendez said, suggesting that a lucrative fight purse may be necessary to convince Jones to agree to the matchup.

As speculation continues around Jones’ intentions, former rival Daniel Cormier commented on Jones’ comments about their past matches, stating, “Fight the dude that’s actually wanting to fight.” Cormier remarked on Jones’ hesitance to engage with a rising talent like Aspinall, who remains ready for a title shot.

Aspinall, frustrated, has emphasized his readiness and eagerness to fight, but the UFC’s delays have taken a toll. “I’ve been almost a year inactive, with no prospect of anything,” he said. “That is kind of difficult, mentally, to stay sharp and focused.”

As he awaits developments on a potential title unification match, Aspinall’s future remains uncertain, but he continues training and maintaining his fighting mindset.