UFC CEO Dana White says the stakes couldn’t be higher for Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes ahead of their interim heavyweight title fight at UFC 304.
But wishful thinking and reality may be two different things.
Aspinall—No. 1 at heavyweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings—puts his interim title on the line for the first time against Blaydes in a rematch from their UFC London main event in July 2022, where Blaydes won via 15-second TKO after Aspinall suffered a freak knee injury. Jon Jones, the reigning heavyweight champion, is expected to face Stipe Miocic later this year. When asked if the winner of Saturday’s co-main event will face the Jones vs. Miocic winner, White seemed adamant that it happens.
“Absolutely,” White said at Thursday’s UFC 304 pre-fight press conference.
Jones and Miocic have both teased that their careers are in the home stretch, with Jones even hinting at retirement following a bout with the former heavyweight champion.
Either way, Aspinall believes his matchup with Blaydes is the actual title fight in the division featuring the top-2 guys.
“Curtis, the guy’s good everywhere,” Aspinall said. “I’m not underestimating this guy. This guy’s f*cking good.
“This is the fight between the two best heavyweights in the world — me and [Curtis Blaydes]. This guy is f*cking legit.”
