Tom Aspinall has confirmed he’s the back-up fighter for the Jon Jones v Stipe Miocic bout at UFC 309 on 16 November at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York.
Jones defends his UFC heavyweight title towards former champion Miocic, with interim champion Aspinall now put in because the alternative opponent ought to both man pull out.
Manchester’s Aspinall mentioned on The Ariel Helwani Present, exterior a deal was accomplished and that plans are in place for him to combat the winner.
UFC president Dana White beforehand mentioned that, ought to the winner proceed combating, Aspinall could be the subsequent in line to combat for the title as interim champion.
“That is what’s occurring,” Aspinall mentioned.
“We have now choices in place in case one man desires to retire, one man desires to proceed, each guys wish to retire. We have now all bases lined.”
American star Jones has repeatedly mentioned he’s contemplating retirement after his subsequent bout whereas Miocic turned 42 years previous final August.
A yr in the past Jones, 37, was compelled to withdraw from combating Miocic at UFC 295 due to harm and Aspinall stepped in to combat Sergei Pavlovich as a substitute.
Aspinall, 31, turned interim champion by stopping Pavlovich and defended the interim title towards Curtis Blaydes in Manchester final July.
Requested what he thought was the almost definitely consequence, Aspinall mentioned Miocic and Jones had been each “in all probability almost definitely” going to retire and he could be upgraded to undisputed heavyweight champion because of this.
The UFC has by no means had an English undisputed heavyweight world champion and Aspinall is simply the third English fighter, after Leon Edwards and Michael Bisping, to win a UFC belt.
