Aspinall: ‘I’m Hearing Stipe Is Injured’
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
“I’m ready to go, lad.”
Jon Jones is supposed to be fighting Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November.
So why hasn’t the promotion made the fight official? We’re less than three months until the Nov. 16 pay-per-view (PPV) card pops off inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, but Dana White and Co. have maintained radio silence over its heavyweight headliner.
Interim champion, Tom Aspinall, is hearing rumors about a potential injury.
“I’m hearing rumors that Stipe is potentially injured,” Aspinall told fans on YouTube. “This is stuff I’m hearing from inner circles. Stipe, I believe his birthday was yesterday, actually, he’s 42 years old. The guy is gonna be injury prone. Jon Jones, million miles on the clock, he’s gonna be injury prone. Me, I’m ready to go, lad. I’m not even in my prime yet. I’m hungry for it. I’m not sure these two guys are, but I am. I’ll fight either of them for the undisputed title on any notice. I’m ready.”
Jones is returning from a year-long injury setback after tearing his pectoral muscle.
During his absence, Aspinall won the substitute strap by stopping Russian bruiser Sergei Pavlovich, then defended the belt with an emphatic victory over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in London. That led to multiple callouts of “Bones” which to date, have been ignored.
Hopefully Miocic can clear the air (or confirm the injury) sooner, rather than later.