Aspinall has been fighting in MMA for 15 years now and pro for 11 years...

[ExitLUPin]

His amateur MMA debut was in 2010 and his pro debut was 2014.

As a point of reference his pro debut was just months after Blaydes made his. If you include amateur fights his amateur MMA debut was 2010 and that's when Derrick Lewis went pro.

It's strange to see because he's viewed as the new kid on the block but he's been fighting for a long time. Now of course he's had injuries and inactivity. His fights rarely ever go past a few minutes so he doesn't have much in-cage mileage but all the training definitely adds up. People expect him to reign for a long time and especially with how historically awful HW has looked for a while, but don't be surprised if we see a shock loss soon. Fighting pro for 11 years and never seeing past the 8 minute mark in a fight is almost impossible... But that's Aspinall.

 

[Chagaev]

More reasons to dislike this whole situation that kept him on the shelf for more than a year. People bitch about the fat and unskilled HW division, but when a fit KO machine falls on Dana's lap he doesn't know what to do with him.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

He had only been in the UFC for 3 years when he won the interim title. He certainly "was" the new kid on the block then.

He's only had one fight since then.

 

[SuperAlly]

He had only been in the UFC for 3 years when he won the interim title. He certainly "was" the new kid on the block then.

He's only had one fight since then.

Blame Jon chicken heart Jones

 

[Ludwig von Mises]

In today's HW division he's a young prospect. Speaks volumes of how sad the HW division is.

 

[TriangleMonkey]

An “Erick Silva” of the HW division if you will

 

[haj02]

Blame Jon chicken heart Jones

Blame Jones for Aspinall sitting out? Makes sense bud.

 

[Tito Tapped]

He had only been in the UFC for 3 years when he won the interim title. He certainly "was" the new kid on the block then.

I don't fully agree.

Jon Jones - 0 heavyweight fights before getting the title

Gane - got the belt in 2 years

Ngannou - did it in under 3 years

DC - 0 UFC hw fights before getting the title

Carwin - did it in under 2 years and had less than 4 minutes of cage time

Lesnar - did it in only 9 months

 

[Phisher]

Blame Jon chicken heart Jones

The blame is with the promotion.

This isn't boxing. They could've put their foot down on Jones in the summer of last year.

Instead, the went on with the Stipe fight that nobody cared about.

All of that nonsense and the overall refusal to promote Aspinall is on the UFC.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

Tom Aspinall Reveals UFC Gave Him Multiple Dates for Jon Jones Fight

Tom Aspinall spent much of the past year waiting for a heavyweight title unification bout against Jon Jones, but as it turns out, waiting isn’t exactly the right way to describe what he was doing during his layoff.

www.sherdog.com

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

Might as well hetire while he’s ahead

 

[Ara tech]

He is clearly a veteran of the game.

Even if he did not had won or lost against Jon, his popularity had increased significantly, and thus his market value, which means that he is a winner and plus he always was a good fighter.

Elite heavyweight for sure.

 

[Tweak896]

I don't fully agree.

Jon Jones - 0 heavyweight fights before getting the title

Gane - got the belt in 2 years

Ngannou - did it in under 3 years

DC - 0 UFC hw fights before getting the title

Carwin - did it in under 2 years and had less than 4 minutes of cage time

Lesnar - did it in only 9 months

The HW division is absolutely cursed to hell. I had faith Ngannou was going to turn around the Stipe squatting, but he kept it up. Jones kept the torch going. I'd even like to add Cain's injuries to that list because it was fucked for him as well. Really hope Aspinall breaks the curse, but history is really strong against HW.

 

[Tito Tapped]

Really hope Aspinall breaks the curse, but history is really strong against HW.

He's defended the title only once in the last 2 years. His chance to turn HW around is long gone.

 

[Gregoire1]

... and he is a bum yet...

 

[Tweak896]

He's defended the title only once in the last 2 years. His chance to turn HW around is long gone.

Well I get it, there are only literally 2 fighters left he hasn't fought that are decent, Gane and Almeida. After that it's only rematches or someone new has to rise up. Jones was really the only fight to solidify his skills and reputation, not to mention make the most money. Of all squatters, can't blame Aspinall for that one. Aspinall was never champion. As soon as he was we got Gane/Aspinall booked. So his "reign" starts now. It'll be funny if he beats Gane, then Almeida early 2026, there is only easy matches afterwards I think.

 

[Luthien]

... and he is a bum yet...

After Gane knocks him dead @HI SCOTT NEWMAN Thomas will have to sell double amount of shoes!

 

[Tito Tapped]

Well I get it, there are only literally 2 fighters left he hasn't fought that are decent

That's sounds like more evidence that he isn't the guy to turn anything around.

But since he hasn't been fighting for the last 2 years, what's he done outside of the octagon to raise his profile, boost his stock, or make people intrested and excited? Dumb fuck is still throwing Jones' name every chance he can get. He needs to get his ass in the cage.

 

[jeskola]

He is 32. According to Fedor fanatics it's all over for poor Tom and he should retire at this well past his prime age.

 

[Tweak896]

That's sounds like more evidence that he isn't the guy to turn anything around.

But since he hasn't been fighting for the last 2 years, what's he done outside of the octagon to raise his profile, boost his stock, or make people intrested and excited? Dumb fuck is still throwing Jones' name every chance he can get. He needs to get his ass in the cage.

His whole name is built from the Jones fight basically, can't blame him leaning into it. Although I will say there was a quiet group here following Aspinall and knew of his potential just being so well rounded. From the way people talk about Aspinall he's going to takedown and sub Gane easy, then use his "perfect TDD" and make Almeida stand and KO him. So we'll see how it all plays out.