Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos believes interim titleholder Tom Aspinall needs to be promoted to undisputed champion “quickly.”
Aspinall captured the interim belt with a 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich in November, an interim title created after Jon Jones suffered an harm and was pulled from the UFC 295 card at Madison Sq. Backyard. “Bones” has but to return to motion, and Miocic has opted to attend for Jones somewhat than dealing with Aspinall for the interim title.
“Cigano” mentioned on MMA Combating’s Trocação Franca podcast that he’s “impressed” by Aspinall, a 30-year-old heavyweight from England with a 100-percent ending charge in 14 skilled victories.
“He’s the person of the second, so he needs to be thought of the champion,” dos Santos mentioned. “If Jon Jones doesn’t return quickly, it’s important to take away his belt and make Aspinall’s belt undisputed. I believe he’s doing nice, he actually could be very robust and expert and competent at what he does. It’s a brand new second for the heavyweight division within the UFC.”
Dos Santos didn’t criticize Jones and Miocic for selecting to attend and solely struggle one another subsequent, particularly given the magnitude of each man’s careers contained in the octagon.
Nevertheless, dos Santos does marvel what’s going behind the curtains.
“The UFC is at all times difficult in a way that they do issues their approach, leaving apart the desire of the champion and the challenger,” dos Santos mentioned. “If it is smart for [Jones and Miocic], I assist them. It’s a struggle the world actually wished to see, I’m actually excited for this struggle, and in the event that they consider that’s the trail they need to comply with now — particularly as a result of we don’t know what’s stopping this from occurring. Let’s maintain going and see what occurs.”
Dos Santos, nevertheless, concedes that whereas the matchup could possibly be the principle focus for each athletes, the UFC belt isn’t actually essential to make Jones vs. Miocic particular.
“The belt is clearly the aim for each athlete, however extra to crown the place they’re as we speak,” dos Santos mentioned. “The belt is an emblem that you simply’re No. 1, however Jon Jones and even Miocic, we already know they’re the No. 1 and No. 2, or at the very least that they’re on the high of the division. Truly, Renan [Ferreira] simply obtained within the combine. [Laughs.]
“However I believe they’re each extraordinarily skilled and have lengthy careers, so they need to do what’s finest for them. There’s no level to struggle solely to struggle, or to do issues that they don’t consider in at this stage of their careers. Let’s see what occurs subsequent.”
