Tom Aspinall has officially been named the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion after a long wait, following the retirement of longtime titleholder Jon Jones. Aspinall, who held the interim title for over a year and a half, becomes only the third fighter from the UK to achieve full championship status in the UFC.
Jones, who won the heavyweight belt in March 2023 and last competed in a title defense later that year, has decided to walk away from the sport. Despite growing anticipation for a matchup between the two, Jones opted not to accept the bout, stating previously that facing Aspinall wouldn’t add to his achievements in the sport.
Aspinall, eager to keep the division active, expressed his readiness to defend the belt soon. A title defense is expected in the coming months, with top contender Ciryl Gane likely to be his next opponent. Aspinall hasn’t stepped into the octagon since mid-2024 and has seen limited action in recent years due to delays surrounding the title situation.
The UFC has acknowledged the setbacks Aspinall faced during this period, promising to support him going forward. Throughout the process, he remained ready to fight anyone, anywhere, and his determination has now been rewarded with full champion status.
