Tom Aspinall has confirmed he’s the back-up fighter for the Jon Jones v Stipe Miocic bout at UFC 309 on 16 November at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York.
Jones defends his UFC heavyweight title towards former champion Miocic, with interim champion Aspinall now put in because the substitute opponent ought to both man pull out.
Manchester’s Aspinall stated on The Ariel Helwani Show, external a deal was finished and that plans are in place for him to battle the winner.
UFC president Dana White beforehand stated that, ought to the winner proceed preventing, Aspinall would be the next in line to battle for the title as interim champion.
“That is what’s taking place,” Aspinall stated.
“We now have choices in place in case one man desires to retire, one man desires to proceed, each guys need to retire. We now have all bases coated.”
American star Jones has repeatedly stated he’s contemplating retirement after his subsequent bout whereas Miocic turned 42 years outdated final August.
A yr in the past Jones, 37, was pressured to withdraw from preventing Miocic at UFC 295 due to damage and Aspinall stepped in to battle Sergei Pavlovich as a substitute.
Aspinall, 31, turned interim champion by stopping Pavlovich and defended the interim title towards Curtis Blaydes in Manchester final July.
Requested what he thought was the more than likely consequence, Aspinall stated Miocic and Jones had been each “in all probability more than likely” going to retire and he can be upgraded to undisputed heavyweight champion in consequence.
The UFC has by no means had an English undisputed heavyweight world champion and Aspinall is simply the third English fighter, after Leon Edwards and Michael Bisping, to win a UFC belt.
