Saturday night (November 16) marks the return of UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones from a more than 20-month layoff. He squares up against former 265-pound kingpin Stipe Miocic in the five-round championship pay-per-view (PPV) top bill. One particular person keeping a close eye on the simulcast UFC 309 heavyweight main event is Tom Aspinall.
That, and UFC CEO Dana White, CBO Hunter Campbell, and matchmaker Mick Maynard. Bossman White has been safeguarding ‘absolute best Pound-for-Pound’ Jones from ducking claims. While this might very well be Miocic having his last battle, White says “Bones” will go on, which would be rudimentary given the Brit interim heavyweight longs for unification. However, Aspinall isn’t so hopeful about the old folks.
It’s a bit of a retirement party but…I am looking forward to being up close and personal and seeing what these guys look like on the back end of their career.
Tom Aspinall on his UFC 309 “Fight Lab” Episode to Adam Catterall (@adamcatterall) for UFC on TNT Sports
If he beats Miocic, Jones says he’s not keen on a title unification bout with interim champion Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC). Instead, he sees a title defense against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will do more for his legacy. The Englishman recently subbed in as official backup for the UFC 309 title affair and is looking forward to seeing them in action. Aspinall even said he’s training as such, ready to drop in on a moment’s notice.
😬Tom Aspinall calls the Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic fight a “retirement party”:
“It’s a bit of a retirement party but…I am looking forward to being up close and personal and seeing what these guys look like on the back end of their career”
🎥@tntsports #UFC #UFC309 🔹 pic.twitter.com/pGv0nc7T0A
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) November 10, 2024
Aspinall has already had to defend his interim title once in a rare scenario. He avenged his loss to Curtis Blaydes by scoring a first-round TKO at UFC 304. If Jones or Miocic wins and yet he goes without unification, it’d be an ultra-rare snub for ages. Miocic has never fought in the post-Zuffa LLC Venum era; that’s how long he hasn’t fought. So Aspinall is all but sure about his sentiment on it. Aspinall also weighed in on the co-headliner.
Tom Aspinall: UFC 309’s Michael Chandler could be ‘one of the most frustrating people’ to train
G.O.A.T. has got to do G.O.A.T. things, and champ has got to do champ things. Tom Aspinall has tried asking nicely. He has tried the ‘no more nice guy’ route and arranged for baits and skits. But without Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic responding, he has got to move on. Declaring himself the “real” legitimate 265-pound champ in the athlete listings, the Brit now partakes in a lot of media availability.
For one, Aspinall’s Fight Lab has been a good addition to his YouTube promo side. Along with guest Adebayo Akinfenwa and host Adam Catterall, he broke down UFC 309 top-bill matchups. Michael Chandler returns in hopes of a rebound to Charles Oliveira in the lightweight pay-per-view (PPV) co-headliner; part of the “Big Apple” action inside MSG.
I think Mike Chandler, especially, he’s got to be one of the most frustrating people to coach ever, …Tactics when he fights are just completely out the window, and he just goes for it. He’s just basically having a street fight with a pair of gloves on. It’s fantastic to watch…He just fights with pure aggression and athleticism, really.
Tom Aspinall further to Adam Catterall (@adamcatterall) for UFC on TNT Sports
Aspinall, however, appreciates the entertainment Chandler always provides. Chandler lost his first fight against Oliveira by knockout in a fight for the vacant lightweight title in May 2021. In a fight that included submission threats from both sides, Chandler was able to drop ‘Do Bronx’ in the first round.
That only happened because the lightweight threw tactics out of the window, giving his back and jumping out on Oliveira. A strict no-no move against a submission grappler. However, he was able to knock him off balance and rock Oliveira hard from the mount. Aspinall expects their UFC 309 serving to be just as wild.
