Morning Report: Curtis Blaydes says Tom Aspinall rematch is for ‘the actual belt,’ Jon Jones gained’t ‘threat his legacy’

The UFC heavyweight division is about to start out making some progress within the title image.

It’s not the battle he hoped for, however interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is staying energetic and going to defend his title. At UFC 304, Aspinall is ready to rematch Curtis Blaydes in Manchester, England on July 27. It will likely be the primary interim title protection since bantamweight’s Renan Barao defeated Eddie Wineland by way of second-round spinning again kick TKO at UFC 165 in 2013. Coincidentally, present undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones defended his gentle heavyweight title in opposition to Alexander Gustafsson in the primary occasion immediately after Barao’s victory.

Divisions simply aren’t the identical when Jones will get concerned. Not less than since 2020 when he departed his longtime house of 205 kilos, sending the division right into a nightmarishly cursed scorching potato title alternate. “Bones’” eventual return as a heavyweight final 12 months noticed him compete for vacant gold after former champion Francis Ngannou’s departure from the promotion. Jones defeated Ciryl Gane within the bout, turned champion, was set to defend in opposition to Stipe Miocic, then suffered a torn pectoral muscle which led to Aspinall’s interim coronation over Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 final November.

Regardless of Jones’ latest return to coaching and the titles needing unification, Jones vs. Miocic remains to be the plan as evidenced additional by the interim title protection reserving. Nevertheless, most view Aspinall vs. Blaydes 2 as a extra official total heavyweight title affair, together with each rivals.

“That’s how I’m approaching it,” Blaydes informed MMA Junkie. “Once I informed my household, my brothers, my dad, my sister, ‘I’m combating for a belt,’ I didn’t say interim belt. I mentioned a belt. Actually, a majority of informal followers, they don’t know the distinction. I’m certain lots of them are most likely perplexed like, ‘How does Aspinall have a belt and Jon have a belt?’ They most likely don’t perceive the idea of interim vs. undisputed, they usually don’t care. All they see is a shiny belt and also you holding it in a UFC octagon. That’s all they want. So to me, it’s the actual belt.”

Blaydes, 33, has been a staple amongst the heavyweight Prime 10 for a number of years. At all times one huge win away from a title shot, “Razor’s” time is lastly now. For Aspinall, he’ll search redemption after an ill-fated 15-second ACL tear of their first encounter in July 2022. The end result was dominated a TKO loss for the British champion, making Blaydes the one man to carry a win over him contained in the octagon.

As quickly as Jones vs. Miocic was mentioned and ultimately introduced in 2023, concern collected all through the group that it could possibly be a double retirement battle, or no less than, the final time we’d see the winner. In latest weeks and months, Jones, 36, has expressed his minimal want in a matchup with Aspinall. Subsequently, Blaydes admits he sees himself having even much less of an opportunity of garnering the curiosity of the all-time nice.

“If I win or if Aspinall wins, I don’t assume Jon’s going to battle anybody exterior of Stipe,” Blaydes mentioned. “After Stipe, he walks away into the sundown. I believe he likes to toss out totally different situations like, ‘What if I fought Alex Pereira? What if I fought Aspinall? What if I fought Blaydes?’ He desires individuals to speak about him, which I get. The extra you get talked in regards to the higher your following grows and it helps your sponsors. I get it. He’s expert at it. He’s been on the web for so long as I’ve had Fb and Instagram, he’s all the time been a presence. He is aware of what he’s doing. However do I truthfully consider he would threat his legacy in opposition to a man like me? No. ‘Trigger if he beats me, what does it do for his legacy?

“Are you going to be like, ‘Oh, that was the battle that lastly cemented Jon because the GOAT.’ Both you consider he’s the GOAT already, otherwise you don’t. It’s like M.J. (Michael Jordan) vs. LeBron [James]. In the event you already don’t consider that LeBron is the GOAT, there isn’t something he can do to vary your thoughts, and vice versa. In the event you already consider he’s the GOAT. Nevertheless you view Jon Jones at this second or after he fights Stipe, that’ll be the lasting picture. And I don’t assume he’s going to do something to jeopardize that.”

Jones has overtly said the significance of bolstering his legacy at this stage and believes Miocic is the very best one to do this subsequent. The previous two-time champion’s subsequent bout would make for his first since he misplaced the title to the aforementioned Francis Ngannou by way of second-round knockout at UFC 260 in March 2021.

Mathematically talking, Aspinall and Blaydes have been the extra energetic fighters of the 4 within the title scene this decade. Sadly for them, they’re caught in a spot the place the division is underneath stranglehold by the legends, believes Blaydes.

“It’s not going to be a easy transition of energy,” Blaydes mentioned about Jones’ eventual departure. “He’s not going to simply — I do know I mentioned he’s going to stroll off into the sundown, however I meant he’s going to ‘retire’ unofficially, however he’s not going to formally retire for who is aware of [how long]. It could possibly be a 12 months, a year-and-a-half. Nevertheless lengthy the UFC permits him to string it alongside, he’ll do it.”

Hindsight. Tyson Fury vows he would’ve chased Oleksandr Usyk knockout if he knew he was down

Victory. Oleksandr Usyk reacts to referee controversy in Tyson Fury battle, will get emotional at presser

Classes. Cory Sandhagen doubles down on Chito Vera criticism: ‘Did you study something from our battle?’

DQ. Ariane Carnelossi reveals facial accidents following UFC Vegas 92 headbutts, responds to Piera Rodriguez

Cancelation. Khalil Rountree Jr. out of Jamahal Hill battle at UFC 303 resulting from doping violation

Distinctive. Melissa Gatto explains why she wasn’t shocked with weird UFC Vegas 92 chest-punch knockout

Playing. Leon Edwards, Tom Aspinall, Bobby Inexperienced all favored to win in UFC 304 opening odds

Purpose. Carlos Ulberg desires high opponent after fast end at UFC St. Louis, eyes Jamahal Hill at UFC 303

Help. Dricus du Plessis defends Jake Paul’s hustle: ‘He’s not a sh*t boxer’

Cheater. Piera Rodriguez blasts ‘coward’ Ariane Carnelossi after UFC Vegas 92 headbutt disqualification loss

$$$. UFC Vegas 92 bonuses: Angela Hill cashes additional $50K for first profession submission

UFC Vegas 92 and Fury-Usyk Put up Reveals.

Poirier Combat Marathon.

Free battle.

PFL Epilogue.

Park vs. Fukuda hype video.

Aspinall in Vegas.

Nurmagomedov college.

Leg-breaking methods.

Guess which film I watched this weekend.

Shoutout to @BurritoGibran on Twitter for at the moment’s reader jam.

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or discover one among my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re presently actually into. I’ll decide the very best one alongside my each day selection and offer you a shoutout! You too can share within the feedback under — these are simply tougher to sift by way of typically!

Countdown.

Distinction.

Gone however not forgotten.

Response.

Zabit sighting.

Congrats!

Sea life.

Muay Thai Jessy issues.

Historical past for the champ.

Extra Jon…

Storm chase.

Beef.

Good.

I don’t see why not.

Couldn’t inform ya.

Buckley has competitors with this one.

Informative judging thread.

Response.

Bros.

Sights with the Bispings.

Good strive, Terry.

Harry Potter issues.

Kape.

Traditional.

Artwork.

One other countdown.

Whoops.

Knees.

Trilogy.

Not nice.

Solely in Russia.

Chaos!

GOAT.

Crossover.

Gold imaginative and prescient.

Received ‘er finished.

Welcome.

Known as it.

Xiao Lengthy (26-8) vs. Chang Ho Lee (9-1); UFC Saudi Arabia, June 22

Charles Jourdain (15-7-1) vs. Jean Silva (12-2); UFC 303, June 29

Caolan Loughran (9-1) vs. Ramon Taveras (10-2); UFC 304, July 27

I really like that everybody is beginning to agree with how absurd this Jones-at-heavyweight saga has develop into. I imply, take a look at final week’s ballot outcomes under! The polls don’t lie!

Thanks for studying!

Final Week’s Outcomes:

Friday: 44% of 317 complete votes answered “Sure” when requested, “Will Conor McGregor battle for a UFC title if he beats Michael Chandler?”

Thursday: 46% of 228 complete votes answered “Edson Barboza and Patchy Combine” when requested, “Who wins this weekend?” Lerone Murphy defeated Barboza by way of unanimous choice in UFC Vegas 92’s essential occasion and Combine defeated Magomed Magomedov by way of break up choice in Bellator Paris’ essential occasion.

Wednesday: 59% of 241 complete votes answered “UFC Vegas 92” when requested, “Which is the higher occasion this week?”

Tuesday: 56% of 437 complete votes answered “Higher” when requested, “Would you give Aljamain Sterling a greater or worse probability of beating Sean O’Malley in a rematch at featherweight?”

Monday: 17% of 544 complete votes answered “0” when requested, “What’s your curiosity degree for Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic out of 10?”

In the present day’s exit ballot:

In the event you discover one thing you’d wish to see within the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him learn about it. Additionally, observe MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Fb.