Tom Aspinall opens up on sacrifice, his road to heavyweight greatness, Jon Jones' retirement and teases his next fight announcement
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has confirmed that a fight announcement is imminent, ending months of frustration caused by what he calls 'politics outside of the cage.'
The British star, who many believe is on the brink of greatness, also revealed he's at peace with failure and now fights without fear — a transformation that followed 'hard conversations' during his injury layoff in 2022 following the first Curtis Blaydes fight.
'I've got a fight coming up soon,' Aspinall told Mail Sport at the launch of his partnership with the sportswear brand Champion. 'I can't say anything else other than that, but there'll be an announcement in the next couple of weeks.'
The 32-year-old hasn't competed since July 2024 when he avenged his defeat to Blaydes. His absence has drawn criticism toward the UFC's matchmaking at the top of the heavyweight division.
Aspinall admits it's been his first real taste of the sport's murky politics, but insists he's confident everything will 'come good in the end'.
'There is a lot of politics involved in the sport unfortunately. That's just the nature of elite sport and something we have to deal with. But, it's not something I'd experienced much until the last 10 months,' he said. 'But I do believe it's going to come good in the end. I am looking forward to that moment and just focus on that moment.'
Despite speculation around a possible showdown with Jon Jones, Aspinall brushed off concerns that such a clash may never materialise or affect his own legacy.
When asked whether he could be considered the best in the sport if he never faces Jones in the cage, Aspinall said: 'That's someone else's opinion. That's for them to decide, not me. It doesn't really bother me too much.
'I'm not really thinking about that. At the end of the day, I can only control what I can control. I can only fight the people that are put in front of me and that is what I am doing. I never shy away from anyone. I never turn down anyone.'
Aspinall may be one of the UFC's most dangerous men, but he didn't always carry the fearless mindset that defines him today.
Before suffering a serious knee injury in 2022, he admits he built excuses into his career, a safety net to protect his pride if he failed.
'I don't have those built-in excuses anymore and I'm not scared of failure anymore. That's because I had some hard conversations with myself when I was out with my knee injury.
'It might sound cheesy, but I did. If I try my absolute best and fail, I can still look myself in the mirror. Whereas if don't fully commit and give it my all I wouldn't be able to,' he said.
'There are so many people walking around on planet Earth, and I'm not just talking MMA or another sport, but every day life that are scared to try to be the best because they are scared to fail or other people's opinion of them. People love it when you fail.
'People want to look at you and say "look at this idiot trying to be the best, he's never going to be able to do this". I'm not afraid of that anymore. I'm not afraid of trying and failing. I'm not afraid of trying my absolute best and not being good enough. That risk has put me in the position where I am today.'
This change, he says, has unlocked a new version of himself, one that is fully committed, unapologetically bold, and unconcerned with public approval... most of the time.
'I go through phases to be honest. When it comes to the comments and stuff, I've had so many it doesn't really bother me anymore. Sometimes it does, of course, because I'm a human, but generally speaking, I try not to read into that kind of stuff. Try not to, but sometimes I do, obviously.'
He went on to clarify: 'Sometimes I read too many comments, then I delete Instagram for a week. But I've had so many now, it doesn't really bother me anymore.'
Aspinall's rise has not come without sacrifice. In his own words, he's given up 'basically everything' to reach the elite level.
'I think all fighters sacrifice a lot of stuff, but I think what separate the elite ones from the average ones, is the amount you sacrifice. You've got to consistently sacrifice stuff for a long period of time. We're talking social events, food, drinking, your body, your mind and financially too. There was a long time I had zero money.'
And yet, even after climbing the ranks and achieving financial stability, he's not looking for the exit. He's not satisfied just yet.
'I achieved my dream a long time ago. Just fighting full time and not doing another job,' he said. 'But the dream of dreams is to be the best heavyweight of all time… and I feel like I'm right there.'
So what keeps him going?
'Easy, because I love fighting. I don't even need motivation. I love MMA more than anyone I know. I live for it.'
What fascinates Aspinall most isn't belts or pay cheques, it's the unknown. It's testing himself against the best in the division and seeing how far he can go.
'Every fight is its own challenge. One guy's got great grappling, another has good elbows. I love that curiosity - like, who's going to win? Let's find out.'
It's that curiosity that has shaped his identity. MMA, he says, has taught him more about himself than anything else in life.
'The biggest thing I've learned is how determined I am and that is massive. I don't think a lot of people realise to get to the point where you're around this level, where I'm fighting right now, you have to be outrageously determined to get up every day and do it.
'It's tough. It's a really, really tough sport and I don't think people quite comprehend how difficult it is. There are people who might go into the gym and have a hard session one day, they might get a dead leg one day, they might have a sore neck the next day. Then the following day they're tired.
'I have done that every day for 20 years. I have blocked out distractions and voices saying take it easy today for years and years and years. I still continue to do it and I still continue to love it. I want more of it.'
Asked how long he can keep that level of obsession going, Aspinall is honest: he doesn't know.
'Maybe two more fights, maybe 20. It's not something I'm thinking about a great deal right now.'
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While he awaits the announcement of his next opponent, Aspinall's focus remains on his ultimate goal - not just to become champion, but to stay one, and leave the sport on his terms.
'I want to get my job done and leave with all my faculties intact.'
And if he could talk to the 10-year-old version of himself, the one who first dreamed of becoming a champion?
'I'd say I've done pretty good. But we're not done yet, there's still work to do. Keep at it, and keep enjoying it.'
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