Something that remains overtly complicated is the issue of “interim” championship hardware. The heavyweight division took a huge hit before UFC 295. With Jon Jones absent due to injury, Tom Aspinall bagged the interim title with a spectacular 69-second knockdown at UFC 295.
A UFC title is the greatest accomplishment one can achieve in Mix-rule combat. Not only does it confer a status as the best in the world (or at least weight class), but it’s also the best route to cementing your legacy. Aspinall’s interim titleholder strap is indeed an accomplishment. Nevertheless, it remains an “in absentia” cosmetic, a promotional tool, if you will, for UFC’s pocketbook. It is a substitute legacy at best and consolation at worst.
The belt can be substituted as a clear way to a bigger and surefire legacy if it is unified with the original title. Jon Jones, considerably the consensus 265-pound G.O.A.T for most, has snubbed Aspinall from the chance. He went on an ungodly social media tirade for the last few months, voicing his resolve against it. While visibly bothered about Tom Aspinall hanging out to dry, people also get where ‘Bones’ comes from. So, where does Jones fall with regard to right or wrong?
A ‘Bones’ to pick – Undefeated, not undisputed
The MMA clique of hardcore enthusiasts and pundits quickly turned on Jones with his abrupt refusal of Tom Aspinall. Jon Jones is steadfast in choosing a fight with former titleholder Stipe Miocic. Jones and Miocic were set to hash out at UFC 295’s feature headliner (MSG Arena, NY City, NY., ESPN+). He had to undergo subsequent surgery for a pectoral tendon tear and a faulty elbow, which pushed the state of the division to a standstill.
The Brit called for a non-callous series of callouts to the recovering fighter, as expected from an “interim.” But Jones took offense at the proposition, demeaning his legacy to just that of a few good fights. Though fans remain ardently in awe of Jones, the 27-1-0 product out of Jackson’s MMA Acoma Gym isn’t without flaws.
Even a reputable Jon Jones has flaws and long stretches of gaps in his record (Source: USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) / X/ IMAGO)He was stripped of the UFC light-heavyweight title strap thrice. Many in-betweens were halts due to contractual rehashings or personal disputes and blemishes from his life outside, like his sitting out Daniel Cormier. He regained his title in Dec. 2018 and defended it thrice. Jones later decided to vacate the title and committed to his heavyweight debut.
After that, Jones would again sit out for three years (Feb. 2020) over pay distribution for a super fight with then-heavyweight Francis Ngannou. All in all, if one thinks about it, his vast legacy comes down to a few good fights too, doesn’t it? A chance he isn’t dishing out to the competition.
Intern or Interim champ?
Jones’ key arguments for snubbing him revolve around legacy recognition. Stipe Miocic is it. According to Jon Jones, the two-division UFC and GLORY champ, Alex Pereira, is even in it. The duo has passively flirted with the idea recently. The Brazilian’s bid to shoot for three-division glory against someone like Jones would make him even bigger.
In a string of posts on X since last week, Jones advocated that Tom Aspinall has a local English fanbase pandering to him. Pataxó Pereira’s staunch Brazilian following consists of the most passionate fanbase. Agreeably, going 2-0 at the local MSG Arena is a better draw than an interim champ highlighting the fleshed-out yet remote English O2 Arena or Co-Op Live Arena In Manchester.
Jon Jones called Tom Aspinall’s legacy in the heavyweight division into question (Source: IMAGO)However, that isn’t on the 14-3 British fighter, is it? Luckily, with TKO Holdings’ recent geographic constraint on extravagant locales or singular easy-cost structure spots, UFC is looking to advance with more roadshows. Alongside, it may also revisit prime spots more often in London, Paris, and Spain, where champions and native staples can star in events.
A lot of such variables have diminished the Brit powerhouse Aspinall’s current standing to that of an ‘intern’ champ; blaming ‘Bones’ for this one will not suffice. Nevertheless, the claim that Aspinall only has a fanbase in the UK might be incorrect. The UFC 295 PPV had a lot of eyes on it. As such, Aspinall received more exposure than ever before for performing excellently at the PPV event in MSG.
Slippy-stripping rules: Through the thin line
The Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) followed a framework of various athletic commissions in the 2000s and was later unanimously adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) in 2009. Even after extensive read-throughs, not a trace of a written rule that binds vacating belts into easier means was found.
Jiri Prochazka vacated claims to his 205-pound championship title before the UFC 282 main event. If the sustainable time frame was more than what the Czech titleholder had presented, the promotion would have probably stripped it themselves. The terms of vacation willingly remain easier. As far as memory serves, Aljamain Sterling was willing to vacate his claim at 135 even before he lost it out at UFC 292.
What was Jon Jones’ leeway in the rules leading to title stripping? (Source: Instagram/nypost.com)Jones and Prochazka are similar cases, yet was Jones just not willing enough? Did he guarantee a certain frame for a rebound? Was it bad optics for the fan favorite to vacate his gold for a fourth time?
Many pundits advise that an interim spot opens if one doesn’t defend a title once in 18 months. Upon return, you fight for a claim in a title unification bout. Others claim to vacate it and fight directly in a title shot to work their way back. This reasoning would have applied to Jones.
Legacy prize
Jones is prone to engage fight fans on socials proactively. A good counter Jon Jones made is he cannot deprive Miocic of his chance at the legacy battle and the slated payday that comes with it. The longtime reigning 265lber is a part-time firefighter and paramedic with the Village of Valley View Fire Department. He recently revealed UFC 308 as a potent frame for their legacy fight. An MSG Pay-per-view event always delivers; names like Miocic or Pereira against Jones are to go through the roof.
Tom Aspinall has no part in Jon Jones’s long-running legacy plans (Source: UFC.go.com/es.agfight.com)Both Jones and Miocic are on the verge of gassing out their mettle on the whole in a few years. So belt or no belt, a super-fight between giants is their true legacy. What does Tom Aspinall get on his end? Speaking to Adam Catterall, Dana White revealed he could defend his interim title. Or wait for the winner of the Jones-Miocic legacy fight. With Jones taking offense to him “selfishly” waiting to swoop in on two older men, the first one is the way to go.
Tom Gasp-In-All
The legacy of the Brit remains to defend a title that essentially still is a promo tool. The “interim” title keeps the ebb of legacy in the roster alive. But does it do anything else for the one holding it? Typically, the interim title gold is necessary to guarantee unification, but not if the prodigal champion disagrees. Tom Aspinall even wanted to test his mettle against the washed-up Miocic, who phased out with a 2nd-round KO last in March 2021. Aspinall has proven he’s good for it, but in vain.
Tom Aspinall is left with making a defense for his “interim” title gold (Source: IMAGO)The Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) allow one to strip a title for holding up a division for elongated periods or missed weight cuts. But there’s no rule set in stone. After a reasonable recovery grace period, a champion ought to give up his/her stake and work their way up the ladder yet again. But that isn’t always the case, as evident with Jones. Jones’ resolve to push through as the divisional G.O.A.T is understandable. However, his constant snubbing of Aspinall doesn’t sit right. In that, Jones is wrong.
That, lining up with current practices of interim championships, is a recipe for slow disaster. There should be no essential interim spots. An “interim” title, superficially, should at least mean mandatory top contender in the lineage. Should Aspinall finally ever unify his titles, this is to be a cautionary tale forever.
