The problem right now with the HW division is that it's very uncompetitive outside of 2 or 3 matches. Jones has easily beat Gane, Aspinall has beaten every contender (bar Gane) so far. He is stuck in the division because he's too big to move down a weight, so he has no option but to fight what the HW has to offer, which isn't much outside of Jones, and potentially Gane. All the biggest stars in the UFC are in lower weight divisions and can or have moved up to fight the big names. Jones was able to move up to HW to achieve double champ status. Conor was able to do the same. Topuria is hoping to do the same by jumping up to LW. Pereira was able to do the same by leaving MW to go up to LHW. Tom, unfortunately, is stuck where he is and therefore will struggle to ever be a big star for this reason. There aren't the names at HW for him to become a big star like there are at the lower weights. What are your thoughts?
Do you agree that Tom Aspinall can't be a big star because he will never be able to be a two division champ?
- Thread starter AzorAhai1
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Force Jones to fight him.
Worry about everything else after that.
Worry about everything else after that.
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If he could beat Jones, he would be a star. Too bad Jones will not fight him.
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Like the guy above me said, giving JJ his first real loss would make Aspinall a star.
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The lightest/heaviest divisions are inherently less popular but if he was knocking guys out twice a year he’d be a pretty big star
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No, that doesn't make a difference.
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No not at all, most people think the double champ stuff is so cringe now, guys got like zero title defenses or 1 title defense and want this double champ nonsense, its so silly. They have done nothing.
A long reigning champion who defends his belt against all the number 1 contenders for many many many years will be a huge star and will get that "aura". Guys like GSP, Anderson, Mighty Mouse are so respected and seen as the best ever, they were never double champs, they had sooooooooooo many title defenses and thats how its supposed to actually be. The so called "superfight" double champ stuff is such a flash in the pan, no consistency. Give me lots of title defenses and some actual substance.
Someone like Anderson who had 16 UFC title fights is just much more interesting to me than someone who has zero title defenses and then is asking for this double champ superfight. Thats why the belts get passed around like confetti and so many interim belts these days. Lame.
A long reigning champion who defends his belt against all the number 1 contenders for many many many years will be a huge star and will get that "aura". Guys like GSP, Anderson, Mighty Mouse are so respected and seen as the best ever, they were never double champs, they had sooooooooooo many title defenses and thats how its supposed to actually be. The so called "superfight" double champ stuff is such a flash in the pan, no consistency. Give me lots of title defenses and some actual substance.
Someone like Anderson who had 16 UFC title fights is just much more interesting to me than someone who has zero title defenses and then is asking for this double champ superfight. Thats why the belts get passed around like confetti and so many interim belts these days. Lame.
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White belt moment.
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Aspinall isn't even a 1 division champ
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He is, just not the undisputed one. Which is not really a fault of his own...Aspinall isn't even a 1 division champ
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Let's start make fightin or strippin Jones "Goat of Ducks" of his fake belt.
After Tom will get the first belt we will worry about another one.
After Tom will get the first belt we will worry about another one.
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He has to make the cut down to LHW like Cormier and formerly huge HWs like Krylov have. If Aspinall got his muscle and bodyfat down to the same as Pereira's at 185, Aspinall could make 205 with dehydration.
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Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey as well. Big stars never switched division.
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Aspinall's problem is the HW division is basically already cleared by him besides Jones/Almeida/Gane. So after those 3 fights he has to fight Lewis/Tuivasa type HWs. Maybe UFC can get Bader or Nemkov, but still it's not like there are tons of names for him to be great. Ngannou made a name from just KOing everyone, Aspinall doesn't have that same backstory and power though.
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