Tom Aspinall open to Alex Pereira bout after Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic rejections

Tom Aspinall secured his place in history by becoming the third British fighter to claim UFC gold. In the co-main event of UFC 295, he delivered a first-round knockout against Russian powerhouse Sergei Pavlovich, earning him the interim heavyweight title. This victory came in the absence of the undisputed champion, who had suffered a pectoral injury.

Originally, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic were slated to headline UFC 295 for the heavyweight title, but the injury prompted the UFC to elevate the co-main event, featuring Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka, to the main event. Pavlovich, initially the backup for the heavyweight title, was then placed in the new co-main event for the interim title against Aspinall.

Tom Aspinall agrees to potential fight vs Alex Pereira

Tom Aspinall on his Instagram expressed his willingness to take on light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at the UFC 300. Dana White had already announced two title fights for UFC 300; a strawweight title fight between Yan Xioanan and Zhang Weili and a BMF title fight between Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje.

“If he (Alex Pereira) wants to (fight at UFC 300), I will,” said Aspinall on his official Instagram expressing his willingness to fight Pereira. The current light heavyweight champion was the former middleweight champion in the UFC but moved up after a loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287.

“But I’m going on record saying I’m not a bully. I don’t bully smaller guys. But if the smaller guy wants to scarp, count me in,” Aspinall further added stating that he generally does not fight smaller guys but would make Pereira an exception.

Aspinall stands at 6 feet 5 inches tall, weighing close to 260 lbs, while Pereira, at 6 feet 4 inches tall, carries a weight close to 230 lbs. The upcoming matchup promises to be enthralling for fans, given the fighters’ fan-friendly styles. Both contenders possess knockout power in their hands, with Pereira showcasing a devastating left hook that many tout as the best in the business.

Why did Tom Aspinall vs Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic collapse?

Tom Aspinall currently finds himself without an opponent. Despite being the interim heavyweight champion, the expected path would be a title unification bout with the undisputed champion. However, the landscape in the UFC’s heavyweight division differs at present.

The UFC is determined to rebook Jon Jones versus Stipe Miocic once Jones recovers from his injury. This has led to a social media spat between Aspinall and Jones, with Aspinall eager for a fight and Jones explaining his reservations. The interim champion has also pursued a matchup with former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, yet such a bout has yet to materialize.

For the UFC, the prospect of Jones, the arguable GOAT of MMA, taking on Stipe Miocic, the arguable GOAT of the heavyweight division is far more enticing than an Aspinall matchup for either of the two. In the meantime, Aspinall has expressed his interest in fighting Curtis Blaydes next; if Blaydes prevails over Jailton Almedia at UFC 299.

With Jones and Miocic both speculated to retire after their fight, the prospect of either one fighting Aspinall is very slim. Nonetheless, that would mean that Aspinall will be elevated to the undisputed champion without even stepping into the octagon.

Do you think Alex Pereira can defeat Tom Aspinall if they ever fought?