After UFC CEO Dana White told MMA Junkie on Saturday that he’s “very confident” the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall heavyweight title unifier happens this summer, the interim champ has provided more reason for excitement.
Aspinall released a video blog Sunday on his YouTube channel reacting to Alex Pereira losing the light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 313 headliner, and indicated that result will be majorly beneficial for him.
Prior to UFC 313 fight week beginning, Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) said Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) was “holding up” negotiations, perhaps to see if Pereira would win and set up a fight between them. But the momentum behind Jones vs. Pereira is now largely dead, and Aspinall revealed off the back of White’s comments that a deal has been reached.
“(Jones vs. Pereira is) off the table now,” Aspinall said. “The Alex Pereira fight at heavyweight, or any other weight, really – I mean, I guess he could still fight him at light heavyweight, really. I guess. But it won’t be for a title. Yeah – Jon: There’s only one thing to do, mate. Sign the contract and let’s get a date going. We’ve seen last night Dana White was talking. Everything is now done on Jon’s side and the UFC now have to find a date and a venue, a place, location. So we’re waiting for that. We’ve got some good news coming soon, hopefully.”
Aspinall said Pereira looked “stiff” in his defeat to Ankalaev at UFC 313. He also claimed he would’ve finished Pereira in the moment where Ankalaev wobbled him late in the second round. Overall, he though it was a “comfortable” victory for Ankalaev by 48-47 or 49-46 scorecards.
With Pereira no longer a threat to potentially steal his fight against Jones, Aspinall said he thinks a rematch with Ankalaev is his most logical career decision.
“Alex Pereira’s run as champion is done for now,” Aspinall said. “In my opinion, immediate rematch should be there next. Alex Pereira’s a massive, massive star in the sport of MMA. Massive. Lost it, lost his title, but the run that he has been on is warranted for an immediate rematch, in my opinion. Magomed Ankalaev, to me, looks like he’s got his number. It looks like the same thing could happen again, in my opinion. I want to see it again. I absolutely want to see that fight again. It was a great fight.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.
