Tom Aspinall’s father is growing impatient waiting for UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Interim heavyweight champion Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is eager to unify his belt with Jones, but the fight has yet to materialize. Aspinall defended his interim title with a quick TKO of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 this past July. Jones opted to make his first title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 this past November.
Aspinall’s father Andy is frustrated at the inactivity that his son has been forced to face as they await the Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) fight to become official. He says the UFC doesn’t want Aspinall to fight anyone else but Jones.
“It’s just a massive pain in the ass, really,” Aspinall’s father said. “Tom is just staying fit, and we’re putting different things into his game and everybody’s game that comes, but it would be really nice – because he’s a fighter – to have a fight. He’s had three fights that have lasted a minute apiece – the last three fights. It is what it is, but we could do with more fights. It’s nice to train for somebody because otherwise, you just go to the gym every day and train. You like to go with a purpose.
“It’s his living, and you need to be making money from your living, especially while you’re fit and healthy, rather than sitting on your ass and turning up for training all the time. If I’m talking purely as a coach, I’m not getting paid because Tom’s not getting paid. It’s not just about money, it’s about you want your fighters to have fights when they’re fit to fight, and he’s not having fights. It’s frustrating, but what do you do?”
Aspinall admits the delay has benefit him to physically heal from some issues he’s been dealing with this year, but assures he’s ready to go whenever he gets a date.
“We want some fight news. That’s what we’re after,” Aspinall said. “I’m training twice a day as always. I’m doing the physio, I’m doing the stretching, I’m recovering, I’m doing everything that an elite athlete does every day without the competition bit – and that part has nothing to do with me.”
