According to BloodyElbow.com, Tom Aspinall is still holding out hope for his unification match against Jon ‘Bones’ Jones to happen this year.
On Tuesday, Aspinall broke Renan Barao’s record as the longest reigning interim UFC champion of all time.
Aspinall defended his title against Curtis Blaydes in UFC 304 in July 2024.
535 days after gaining the interim title, Aspinall continues to wait to unify the tile with a bout against Jones.
The former bantamweight champion set the previous record over 11 years ago.
During Domnick Cruz‘s injury-induced absence, the Brazilian beat Urijah Faber to win a secondary belt at 135lbs at UFC 149 in July 2012.
It seems very possible that Aspinall will set the record as the longest interim champion at 600 or 700 days.
At the UFC main event in Kansas City on Saturday night, UFC president Dana White provided an update on Jones/Aspinall in a post-fight press conference.
“Everything you hear is bulls— until we say it,” White insisted.
White continued, “I’ve said it many times, that’s the fight we want to make this year. Still super confident [it happens].”
As for now, Aspinall continues the impatient wait for this long overdue match to possibly take his place as the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.
