Tom Aspinall spent 19 months as interim UFC heavyweight champion "I will retire Jon Jones without even fighting him." Tom Aspinall's prediction from 10 months ago resurfaced on Sunday as it was announcedJon Jones had retiredfrom MMA. The UFC elevated Aspinall to full champion but a question mark remains over who the Mancunian will face in his first defence. There are several contenders, including the left-field option of former light-heavyweight and middleweight champion Alex Pereira. BBC Sport looks at the options. France's Ciryl Gane is the leading contender. The 35-year-old will soon be confirmed as the number one challenger once the rankings are updated. With two unsuccessful world title tilts already under his belt, Gane is one of the best fighters in the division. But Gane was far from convincing in his last outing against fellow top contender Alexander Volkov and the UFC may prefer a more exciting option. The UFC goes to Paris in September but his compatriot Nassourdine Imavov is set to headline, which could be a hint Dana White has other plans for Gane. This is the dark-horse option. Pereira has repeatedly said he would be interested in a title shot at heavyweight. Talk of a potential match-up has cooled since Pereiralost the light-heavyweight titleto Magomed Ankalaev in March, but the Brazilian remains a very interesting option for Aspinall. Pereira is a two-weight world champion and it does not appear an immediate rematch with Ankalaev is on the cards. He is also, along with Aspinall, one of the UFC's few standout stars and a super-fight between the pair could be huge and help fans quickly forget the disappointment of Jones' retirement. Jailton Almeida is further down the rankings but has not fought Aspinall yet Jailton Almeida is number six in the current rankings and we skip down to him because Aspinall had recent wins over Sergei Pavlovich (third) and Curtis Blaydes (fourth). The Brazilian has just one loss since 2018 and that was to American Blaydes. Almeida bounced back from that with back-to-back stoppage wins over Alexander Romanov last June and then Serghei Spivac in January. He would be a tricky opponent for Aspinall given his impressive submission abilities. Of his 21 finishes, 13 of them have been by submission. Like Almeida, Russia's Volkov was mentioned by Aspinall in a recent training post, leading to speculation both men are being considered. Volkov wasswept aside by Aspinallin 2022, but has been on an excellent run since with victories over Tai Tuivasa, Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. He did lose his last fight to Gane, but was furious with the scorecards. With 24 knockouts in 38 wins, Volkov would be an attractive prospect if Aspinall or the UFC were angling for a slug fest for his first defence.
Pereira or Gane? Who will Aspinall fight next?
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Tom Aspinall's First Title Defense: Contenders Include Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira"
Bbc News
8.6
TruthLens AI Summary
Tom Aspinall, having spent 19 months as the interim UFC heavyweight champion, has now been elevated to full champion following Jon Jones' recent retirement from mixed martial arts. This development raises the question of who Aspinall will face in his first title defense. The frontrunner for this match appears to be Ciryl Gane, who is expected to be confirmed as the number one contender once the UFC rankings are updated. Gane, a well-respected fighter in the heavyweight division, has previously challenged for the title twice but has yet to secure a championship victory. Despite his impressive skill set, his last performance against Alexander Volkov was not convincing, which might influence the UFC's decision to consider other potential challengers. The upcoming UFC event in Paris, where Gane's compatriot Nassourdine Imavov is set to headline, may also indicate that the organization has different plans for Gane’s next fight.
Another intriguing option for Aspinall's first title defense is Alex Pereira, a former champion in both the light-heavyweight and middleweight divisions. Pereira's interest in moving up to heavyweight for a title shot has been noted, although recent losses have cooled speculation surrounding a matchup with Aspinall. Nonetheless, Pereira remains a compelling contender due to his status as a two-weight champion and his ability to draw fan interest. Additionally, Jailton Almeida, currently ranked sixth, has not yet faced Aspinall, making him another possible opponent. Almeida boasts an impressive record with a high finishing rate, predominantly through submissions, which could pose a unique challenge for Aspinall. Lastly, Alexander Volkov, who has rebounded from a loss to Gane with several strong performances, remains a possibility as well, especially given his knockout power. With various strong candidates in the mix, the UFC has several exciting options to consider for Aspinall's title defense.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.