Tom aspinall next to his father Andy Aspinall. Photo: Reproduction/X
Although highly anticipated, the news of the increase in Tom aspinall UFC heavyweight champion (up to 120,2 kg) did not please Andy Aspinall, the fighter's father. The way the announcement was made left the British man angry. Last Saturday (21), after the UFC Baku, the organization's CEO, Dana White announced in a press conference that Jon Jones was retired and the Englishman became the new champion. Too simple in Andy's opinion.
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“Hunter texted me and said, ‘Dana just announced that Tom is the champion…’, which was the same text he had sent to Tom. I sent Hunter a message saying, 'I can't think of a worse way you could have done this,'" Andy Aspinall revealed in an interview with 'Uncrowned'.
In addition to being the father of Tom aspinall, Andy is the athlete's coach. He defended the importance of the division to state that the change deserved better attention.
“I just think it’s… I don’t know if pathetic is the word — I just think they didn’t think about it. To me, an organization’s heavyweight championship is a very important thing, and I don’t think Tom deserved to find out about it at a press conference in the middle of the night. I can't think of a worse way to do it. Maybe if they had woken us up to tell us, it would have been worse," Aspinall continued.
Jon Jones retires at 37
Jon Jones defeated Miocic by knockout and defended his belt at UFC 309 . Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/UFC
At 37, Jon Jones ends his career with a record of 28 wins, one loss by disqualification and one no-contest fight, cementing his status as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. He began MMA in 2008, made a lightning-fast debut in the UFC and in March 2011, at the age of 23 years and eight months, became the youngest champion in UFC history by knocking out the legend Maurício “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128.
In the light heavyweight division, he was the absolute master of the category: he defended the belt 11 times, facing and defeating names such as Rampage jackson, Lyoto Machida, Vitor belfort, Alexander Gustafson e Daniel Cormier.
In 2020, Jones decided to drop out of light heavyweight and make the jump to heavyweight. After a three-year absence from the octagon, he returned in March 2023 and finished Cyryl Gane in the first round, winning the belt in the new category. In November 2024, he knocked out Stipe Miocic with a spinning back kick, with his first and only heavyweight title defense, reaffirming his legendary legacy. Tom aspinall is the new linear champion of the category.
Tom Aspinall: new champion
Tom aspinall is the new UFC heavyweight champion. Photo: Reproduction/UFC India
Tom aspinall se manifested on social media minutes after announcing his retirement. In publication short, the new linear champion promised an active reign in the category.
“For you fans, it’s time to get this heavyweight division moving. An active linear champion,” wrote the Briton when posting the video of Dana White’s statement.
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