Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall believes he’s subsequent up Jon Jones after receiving a sign from the UFC brass.

After stopping Stipe Miocic with a vicious spinning again kick to the physique in the principle occasion of UFC 309, Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) hopped on the mic with Joe Rogan and revealed he plans to proceed preventing, halting rumors of retirement.

Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who was tabbed because the backup choice for the battle, watched Jones deal with enterprise from cageside, and in addition listened carefully to Jones’ phrases on the mic. When he heard his title talked about, Aspinall stated he locked eyes with Dana White and Hunter Campbell.

“When Jon Jones was doing his speech, I used to be trying straight on the UFC brass, Dana and Hunter,” Aspinall stated on the ESPN post-fight present. “Each of them turned to me on the identical time and pointed at me and winked. On the identical time. So to me, that claims there’s one thing massive within the pipeline.”

After being current all battle week, not figuring out if his providers as a backup fighter can be wanted on the final second, Aspinall leaves New York with extra confidence that the subsequent time he and Jones step into the octagon, will probably be to unify the heavyweight title.

Mixed with White’s insistence that the winner of the UFC 309 predominant occasion would face Aspinall subsequent, the Englishman feels he’s in a great place to get the chance to show he’s the very best heavyweight on the planet.

“That is large,” Aspinall stated. “That is probably one of many greatest fights in MMA proper now. If that doesn’t curiosity Jon Jones, then I don’t know what else we will do. All people is aware of that that is the battle to make. That is the battle the folks need. That is the battle the UFC desires, that is the battle the followers need, and that is the battle that has to occur now.”