Tom Aspinall reacts to official Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic announcement for UFC 309

09/16/2024 04:10 PM

Much to Tom Aspinall’s joy, Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic is finally official.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) defends his heavyweight title vs. Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the UFC 309 main event Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Interim heavyweight champion Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has long awaited the fight announcement, which took a year to be rebooked, and he plans on being in attendance – not just as a spectator, but as a backup fighter.

“Big Jon Jones, big Stipe Miocic matched up with one another – finally it’s official,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel. “Nov. 16, MSG, New York City, the heavyweight title is on the line at long last. Finally, we are confirmed for it, and I will of course be there to watch these two gentlemen go at it.

“I, of course, have told the UFC that if anybody gets injured or there’s any other reason why nobody can make it to that fight, (if) one of them pull out, I’m ready to go. If I need to, I’ll fight both of them in the same night, no problem. Give me my undisputed title.”

After defending his interim title with a quick TKO of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, Aspinall can’t wait for the opportunity to prove he’s the true heavyweight champion.

“In my opinion, it should not be two champions in one weight division, I think that is silly,” Aspinall said. “This is not what UFC is about. This is not what MMA is about. There’s one guy in each weight division, and I believe it’s me.

“So I’ll be fighting the winner. I will be there if they need me. I’ll be fit and ready. I’m training right now. I’m ready to go. I’ll be ready to go on Nov. 16 if I need to. MSG is the place where I won the title, I’ll go back there and I’ll unify the title there as well if I need to.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 309.