Tom Aspinall should fight for the undisputed title or relinquish it
Tom Aspinall faces pressure to fight undisputed champion Jon Jones or vacate his interim heavyweight belt to resolve division stagnation. Dana White suggests the UFC may move on quickly if a unification bout cannot be secured following Aspinall's 300 days of inactivity.
I conclude that Tom Aspinall should fight for the undisputed title immediately or relinquish his belt to allow the heavyweight division to progress. Jon Jones holds the undisputed championship but avoids the interim champion. Teddy Atlas, a boxing trainer, claims Jones keeps the title hostage. Dana White stated that if the promotion cannot secure the Jones versus Aspinall fight within the next couple of weeks, the UFC will move on quickly to resolve the heavyweight division and move forward. Aspinall says the delay rests on Jones’ side. The heavyweight division remains in a state of uncertainty.
Atlas noted that the biggest loser in this scenario is Aspinall, who has been inactive for nearly a year. Atlas also questioned what mechanisms exist to ensure rules are lived up to in the business. He argued the UFC needs to do a better job of holding its champions to a higher standard. Without enforcement, the championship cycle repeats itself. Atlas expressed frustration that the fight has not happened yet, noting that the lack of a decision tests Aspinall more than his recent injury. He asked what the repercussions are if the rules are not being enforced.
Aspinall’s status and the pressure to vacate
Aspinall lacks medical clearance following an eye injury sustained at UFC 321 against Ciryl Gane last October. He spent over 300 days without competition in the octagon. This inactivity prevents fighters like Alex Pereira from challenging the undisputed champion. Dana White suggested Aspinall might vacate his title, similar to how Valentina Shevchenko vacated the women’s flyweight title. Henry Cejudo believes Aspinall should vacate or be stripped so that contenders like Josh Holquist can fight for the belt. Aspinall previously defeated Sergei Pavlovich in 69 seconds at UFC 295 to win the interim title. He also defeated Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. This inactivity creates tension. You already know that title unifications resolve division chaos.
| Fighter | Title Status | Last Win |
|---|---|---|
| Jon Jones | Undisputed | UFC 309 |
| Tom Aspinall | Interim | UFC 304 |
Aspinall’s injury occurred during his defense against Ciryl Gane. He has not been cleared by doctors. This delay tests Aspinall more than the injury itself. The heavyweight division remains in a state of uncertainty. This stagnation limits opportunities for other contenders.
UFC 322 and the path forward
The UFC 322 event in Sydney this November shows the promotion’s ability to host massive events without Jones. This event includes the lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena. Makhachev must defend his belt against the surging Maddalena, who holds an eighteen-fight winning streak. Maddalena lands 6.84 significant strikes per minute and has 13 knockouts in 18 wins. Makhachev has 13 finishes in 27 wins. He also maintains a 90% takedown defense. Makhachev is the -275 favorite. Maddalena is the +225 underdog. The Australian has 18 wins and 13 knockouts. He must overcome Makhachev’s wrestling to win.
The card also includes a women’s flyweight title fight where Zhang Weili challenges Valentina Shevchenko. Zhang has a five-fight winning streak. Shevchenko is the -128 favorite. Aspinall told his YouTube channel that he still wants the Jones unification. He also mentioned that a fight with Alex Pereira remains a possibility. Will the UFC finally enforce its rules regarding mandatory title defenses? The heavyweight division waits for a definitive resolution.
