“He is a guy that moves like me, but I think he is even more technical than me in truth, even more complete than me, so he is a real problem for the weight class,” UFC heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane said back in 2022. ‘Bon Gamin’ acknowledged the hard-hitting truth about the English juggernaut Tom Aspinall after witnessing the future interim champion’s dominant performance against Alexander Volkov at UFC London. The Brit submitted Volkov in the very first round with a straight armbar, making a powerful statement in the heavyweight division.
And in 2025, Aspinall is firmly established as the interim heavyweight champion. In his nine Octagon appearances, the Englishman has secured eight wins, with six coming by knockout. His last three victories have all ended in knockouts, putting him just one step away from becoming the undisputed champion. Moreover, he also has the shortest average Octagon time in history with just 2 minutes and 2 seconds. Despite these credentials, the reigning heavyweight champion Jon Jones does not seem ready to put his title on the line against the 31-year-old Aspinall. It has now been over 500 days since the Brit has been waiting for that opportunity, even defending his interim title in the meantime.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his title shot, reports suggest that the unification between Aspinall and Jones is on the horizon. The Englishman remains fully committed to his goal and is currently training in his home country, Britain. He has been sharpening his skills alongside retired strongman Eddie Hall, with their sparring sessions well-documented on social media. Recently, ‘The Beast’ sat down with Ariel Helwani, where the MMA journalist asked the former World’s Strongest Man, “What is it like to be in there with arguably the best heavyweight in the world?”
In response, Hall revealed that the interim champ is the “strongest guy,” he has ever faced. ‘The Beast’ stated, “Very humbling. You think you can fight, and then you get in the ring with someone like Tom Aspinall, and he just plays with you. You know, he can literally throw you around and land jabs in your face like you’re a little kid in a schoolyard. So yeah, it’s very humbling getting in there with someone like Tom.”
“Going up against someone like Tom Aspinall… He’s proving a point that strength means absolutely nothing. But Tom himself is a strong guy. You wouldn’t believe how strong Tom is.
There’s nothing like thinking you can fight and then getting in the ring with someone like Tom… pic.twitter.com/G5aLvOZzob
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 1, 2025
Eddie Hall’s words hold weight, considering his experience in sparring with Tom Aspinall since 2022, and the fact that they still train together “once a week,” as ‘The Beast’ himself revealed. However, despite Hall’s claim, there was a time when a clip surfaced showing Hall making The Englishman tap out during a sparring session. While Hall has retired from strongman competitions, he ventured into exhibition boxing against Hafthor Julius Bjornsson and is now preparing for his MMA debut.
Originally slated for last year, Hall will now debut in MMA at KSW 105 on April 26, facing Mariusz Pudzianowski, a fellow strongman. With the guidance of the best in both fitness and combat sports, Aspinall is now gearing up for a showdown with Jon Jones. Recently, The Englishman posted a picture on Instagram with the caption “We are waiting,” hinting at his anticipation of the champ’s return. Reports suggest that Dana White is “100% sure” that Aspinall vs. Jones will take place, and GOAT contender Demetrious Johnson has recently shared his advice with the interim champ.
Demetrious Johnson weighs in on Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones
If Tom Aspinall takes the advice of 125lbs GOAT Demetrious Johnson, who recently spoke with Submission Radio, he may need to consider moving on from Jon Jones. ‘Mighty Mouse’ voiced the frustration that both Tom and his father (Andy) have felt since last year, waiting for ‘Bones’.
Johnson urged Aspinall to take another fight, saying, “If I was Tom Aspinall, I’d be like, ‘God, dude, like I’m not f—–g waiting six months. Y’all need to get me another fight.’ But then again, this could be the biggest fight of his career if he’s able to beat Jon Jones. I have mixed feelings about the six months. I think that Tom Aspinall should take another fight.”
The Englishman has held the interim title since November 2023 which he won at UFC 295 when Jones was originally set to fight Stipe Miocic. But due to an injury, ‘Bones’ pulled out, creating an opportunity for Aspinall to face Sergei Pavlovich for the interim title. He later successfully defended it against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
Now, with Jon Jones having successfully defended his title over four months ago at UFC 309, the anticipation in Tom Aspinall’s camp grows as they await that pivotal announcement. The ball is now in Jon Jones’ and Dana White’s court to give the green light. Stay tuned for more updates!
The post Tom Aspinall Gave a ‘Very Humbling’ Lesson to World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall Ahead of His MMA Debut appeared first on EssentiallySports.
