Tom Aspinall makes case for UFC heavyweight title shot before Stipe Miocic - 'It’s about who’s the best right now'

Tom Aspinall has said he should be next in line for a shot at the UFC heavyweight title rather than Stipe Miocic.

Miocic was slated to face Jon Jones for the heavyweight title in November, but the fight was postponed after the latter picked up an injury.

Aspinall took on the slot at UFC 295 at short notice, as the organisation shifted its roster to get the Brit in the cage against Sergei Pavlovich for an interim title.

Pavlovich was knocked out in 69 seconds as Aspinall made a huge statement performance.

UFC has still to confirm plans for the division in 2024, but Dana White has said the "legacy fight" between Jones and Miocic will happen.

That is not sitting well with Aspinall, who took to social media to express his frustrations along with the hashtag #freeaspinall.

“Stipe is one of my favourites,” Aspinall wrote. “Loads of respect to him, his resume is far superior to mine right now.

“That being said the UFC has never been about this. It’s about who’s the best right now, and I believe that’s me and it’s only right I get to prove it.

“Surely if you’re interim champ, your next fight should be to fight for undisputed? Come on.”

Miocic has not fought since being knocked out by Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 in March of 2021. His last win came against Daniel Cormier in August of 2020.

Aspinall continued: “Last time Stipe fought and won, GTA: San Andreas had just come out on PS2. He will fight next for the undisputed heavyweight title, ahead of me, who’s the interim champ, active and ranked No. 1 in the world right now. This makes me quite upset.

“Final fun fact: Since Stipe last won a fight, I have blown my knee out, went through the rehab process and had a year off, also had seven UFC fights, including four wins vs top-10 ranked opponents and won the interim title on two weeks’ notice.”

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