If you were Tom Aspinall, what would you do?

[Joshua Judd]

Take a page out of Ngannou’s book and start mentioning boxers. Pretty clear the UFC has no respect for Tom or his time/prime, why should he have any for them. If he beats Jon he beats an old veteran if he loses to Jon then it’s just a further testament to how washed the heavyweight division is now.

 

[Mammothman]

Fighting Gane, it would be an easy fight woth a nice payday and would put the momentum back on him.

 

[icerealm]

if i am tom, i will pick my fights, Jailton is a worthy opponent, winning will definitely pull up the status
probably fight Jailton then if win, wait for Jones again, if UFC aint giving Jones, time to consider other leagues
time is not long for tom, hes already 32 and he has 2 kids to feed
every fight is a danger because you can get injured, harsh training camp etc

 

[Tsuli]

Most fans now view him as the legitimate HW champ, so act like it.

Defend the title, say your mission is to beat every ranked fighter, and call yourself the real HW champ.

 

[Paolo Delutis]

Id start an online campaign of videos dogging Jones into fighting me ( like shannon did to Klitschko, LETS GO CHAMP) while publicly asking Dana to make it happen...

 

[markg171]

Never seen someone so invested in making themselves look stupid as Mark. Dude is like an addict.

"I haven't been called a retard in hours...gotta get my fix and post something idiotic!"

 

[Jawth]

I honestly think Gane cooks him and he’s afraid of that just as much as the ufc so they are all sitting around

Gane that got outwrestled by bum leg Francis and killed in thirty seconds vs. jones Is not beating Tom.

Tom could probably even sleep him on the feet too.

 

[markg171]

Blaydes is a top 3 heavyweight. Thats much better than going 0-1 against Hamill.

You do realize Tom has 2 other losses to regional cans on top of Blaydes right

 

[markg171]

Fight Gane for the vacant heavyweight title.

At least thats what Dana should fucking do by the end of summer if Jon doesn't fight.

Exactly what make belief card do you think that would happen on when:

UFC 316 on June 7 is already headlined by Merab/Sean 2
UFC 317 on June 28 is already headlined by Ilia/Charles
UFC 318 on July 19 is already headlined by Max/Poirier 3
UFC 319 on August 16 is already headlined by DDP/Khamzat
UFC 320 on September 13 is the Noche Mexican card

There's nothing until October regardless of if it's Jon or Gane. And more likely they'll wait till the November's MSG card anyways for a HW title fight. Which is also what Jon hinted at when he said if they stripped him after Stipe he'd just fight whoever in November, indicating that again November is the date the UFC's been targeting.

People want to strip Jon because it makes them feel good, but you're still not magically getting a title fight next week if you do.

 

[Russie]

First of all have a no BS meeting with Dana and Hunter for some straight answers looking them in the face. Saying its close well WTF does that actually mean, press for explanation of why hasn't JJ been stripped, call for that to happen with fight for title against Gane.

 

[Rampage_Jackson]

Tom is doing the right thing. He's owed an undisputed title shot. I would not fight until I got it.

 

[Rampage_Jackson]

Most fans now view him as the legitimate HW champ, so act like it.

Defend the title, say your mission is to beat every ranked fighter, and call yourself the real HW champ.

He's not getting paid like it why should he

 

[mkess101]

I know it seems like I'm an asshole to you. And that's because...I am. But it's because I don’t believe you're actually this stupid. I think your insane bias drives you to type shit that you KNOW is wrong but you can't help yourself.

 

[JustforBROCK]

Starting calling myself the actual champion, say that I no longer want the Jones fight because clearly he's afraid, and just move on and be very dismissive of Jon moving forward. Maybe even talk shit about Dana White.

 

[shorinryu86]

Win the title and became a household name, leave the UFC and get a boxing superfight.
Then retire rich and happy.

 

[markg171]

I know it seems like I'm an asshole to you. And that's because...I am. But it's because I don’t believe you're actually this stupid. I think your insane bias drives you to type shit that you KNOW is wrong but you can't help yourself.

 

[Tito Tapped]

He's doing the only thing he can do.

Wait around for Jones to get paid and hustle shit products to make a buck in the meantime.

 

[cmw43]

You do realize Tom has 2 other losses to regional cans on top of Blaydes right

One was elbow DQ likes Jones against Hamill and the other was 10 years ago when he was 22 years old he got caught in a heelhook in a fight he was winning, you think they have much relevance on how he performs today? You think those guys would beat him today?

 

[markg171]

One was elbow DQ likes Jones against Hamill and the other was 10 years ago when he was 22 years old he got caught in a heelhook in a fight he was winning, you think they have much relevance on how he performs today? You think those guys would beat him today?

I actually do given Tom's still as reckless as ever and liable to make such mistakes, and there's also been zero indication his submission defence is any better as it's never been tested since. Do I think he'd lose to those guys or similar level fighters again? Of course not, but it does inform how you should think how he'd do in similar situations with better fighters.

People are making up this new imaginary mature complete perfect fighter in their heads. Tom's still using his incredible physical attributes to overcome his recklessness and poor defence. That's liable to cost him eventually at this level.

 

[Neck&Neck]

Pivot to Pro Pickleball, and make some real money