The numbers won’t play out that the UFC has had as many interim champions as traditional champs the past decade or so, but it seems to feel that way sometimes.
In recent months, the interim title that has been at the forefront of most conversations about such things is the one held by heavyweight Tom Aspinall. He has the interim title while champ Jon Jones continues to recover from shoulder surgery.
Normally, the champ would fight the interim titleholder to unify the belts. In this case, that won’t happen immediately. Instead, Aspinall (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) will put the interim belt on the line next week in the UFC 304 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) co-main event in Manchester, England, against Curtis Blaydes (18-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC).
And that fight is taking place because Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) is being kept in a coveted title defense against former champ Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC), which is projected for Madison Square Garden in November.
The fight most heavyweight fans want to see is Jones vs. Aspinall, but there exists a real possibility it won’t happen given things need to line up on multiple sides. And UFC lead play-by-play voice Jon Anik finds himself in a position to have to remain optimistic, even with a lot of reasons to be cynical.
“Certainly a 25 minute war between Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall that results in six months of recovery time wouldn’t be ideal for either party, nor would it be for MMA fans who want to see things expedited in this heavyweight division,” Anik recently told MMA Junkie Radio. “It really is crazy to think about a Stipe Miocic who was 38 years old competing in there, and we’ll next see him when he’s 42. He’s sort of the least talked about. Component of this bracket right now, but that seems crazy to me. And what kind of version is he going to present to Jon Jones? We all get down and pray that that fight actually happens in November.”
Until there’s a date reserved on the calendar for Jones-Miocic, though, Anik virtually is forced to stay in the current reality, which is a heavyweight title fight – regardless of interim status – in England.
And he doesn’t think that asterisk next to Aspinall’s name for his interim belt should be held against him.
“As far as I’m concerned, we have two undisputed UFC heavyweight champions right now,” Anik said. “Interim belts materialize for myriad reasons, Even if in one breath, I would say the belt should be silver in color to differentiate. (But) the interim belt is there because the undisputed title can’t be contested for whatever reason. So as far as I’m concerned, Tom Aspinall is defending the heavyweight championship against a very capable and unheralded Curtis Blaydes, and that’s the fight that I am focused on.
“I certainly am hopeful that the winner of that fight emerges relatively unscathed, not just because my car’s waiting outside and the run Round 1 knockout is a broadcaster’s dream, but also because I’d like to see some pressure on this heavyweight division to move forward.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.
