The UFC interim heavyweight title is set to be defended just a few months before the undisputed title is put up for grabs in November.
As the speculation surrounding the expected undisputed UFC heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and former champion Stipe Miocic continues to mount, veteran commentator Jon Anik breaks down the state of the division.
Tom Aspinall set to defend his interim title vs Blaydes at UFC 304
When Tom Aspinall won the interim UFC heavyweight title back in 2023, many within the MMA community expected his next fight to be for the undisputed championship against the legendary Jon ‘Bones’ Jones.
However, the light heavyweight GOAT has instead remained steadfast in his desire to face former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic – whilst that bout has yet to be officially announced, it’s expected to go down on the November PPV at Madison Square Garden.
Now, Aspinall has been left with the arduous task of defending his interim title against a resurgent Curtis Blaydes, set for the co-main event of UFC 304 on July 27, with the possibility of a unification fight looking bleaker by the day.
Jon Anik breaks down the state of the heavyweight title picture
This week, speaking via the MMA Junkie YouTube channel, fan-favorite commentator and helmsman of the broadcast booth Jon Anik has given his take on the issues plaguing the top of the heavyweight tree.
“Well certainly a 25-minute war between Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall [at UFC 304] that results in six months of recovery time wouldn’t be ideal for either party, nor would it be for MMA fans who want to see things expedited in this heavyweight division.
“It really is crazy to think about a Stipe Miocic who was 38 years old competing in there [vs Ngannou] and we’ll next see him when he’s 42. He’s sort of the least talked about component of this bracket right now but that seems crazy to me.”
Anik noted that as far as he is concerned, “We have two undisputed UFC heavyweight champions right now,” and that for better or worse, he believes that Aspinall is the one holding the one true title.
“The interim belt is there because the undisputed title cannot be contested for whatever reason so as far as I’m concerned, Tom Aspinall is defending the heavyweight championship against a very capable and unheralded Curtis Blaydes.
“I certainly am hopeful that the winner of that fight emerges relatively unscathed not just because my car’s waiting outside and the round one knockout is a broadcaster’s dream, but also because I’d like to see some pressure on this heavyweight division to move forward.”
No matter who wins out of Aspinall or Blaydes in Manchester, both fans and fighters alike will (hopefully) have a better idea of where the victor sits compared to Jones and Miocic – as long as there’s not another freak 15-second injury that spoils the party.
“There are a lot of things that are happening and hopefully we get clarity right,” stated Anik, before making a case for the winner of that fight being pushed into undisputed title contention.
“Tom Aspinall is ready, willing and able to show the world that he can be the undisputed heavyweight champion and there are other guys like Curtis Blaydes who are ready to show that as well in their fighting prime, not wanting to waste any those prime months, let alone years.
“It’s tricky when the greatest mixed martial arts athlete of all time tears his peck because there’s not going to be a vacation of title and you’re certainly not going to strip the GOAT.”
Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes is the co-main event of UFC 304, scheduled for July 27, and will be the chief support of the welterweight title fight between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad.