Following Jon Jones’ unexpected retirement from MMA, Tom Aspinall was elevated to heavyweight champion, leaving the division’s next title defense uncertain. Jailton Almeida, a rising contender, has expressed confidence that he should be the one facing Aspinall in the upcoming championship bout. Almeida’s focus on the Jon Jones retirement heavyweight title vacancy has positioned him as a prominent challenger eager to seize the opportunity.
Almeida pointed out that other contenders have either not pursued the fight or are unavailable.
“In fact, I’m the only guy in the division asking to fight Tom Aspinall. If you look at it, Volkov doesn’t ask for it. Ciryl Gane is shooting movies, Pavlovich already fought him and has another fight booked. I’m the only one left, and I’m the one calling him out,”
Almeida stated to MMA Fighting.
Contenders and Almeida’s Case for the Next Title Shot
Ciryl Gane has been considered a leading candidate for the title challenge, but Almeida believes his current form makes him a stronger contender. The Brazilian fighter has built momentum with a 5-1 record in the heavyweight division and a recent technical knockout win over Serghei Spivac. This string of success bolsters his claim to deserve the next title shot against Aspinall.
Almeida Anticipates a Grueling Battle Against Aspinall
Almeida expects the matchup with Tom Aspinall to be intense and action-packed, describing it as a fight that fans would enjoy due to the opponents’ similar fighting styles. He emphasized both fighters’ speed and skills, while also noting Aspinall’s lack of experience going the distance in five-round bouts.
“It’s going to be a great fight because our styles are similar. He’s fast. Not surprisingly he’s the champion,”
Almeida said.
“What I’ve seen from Tom Aspinall is that he doesn’t fight five rounds. He’s never fought five rounds in his life. He gets tired after the second. Tom Aspinall was never tested to fight more than three rounds. I’m doing six, seven rounds in the gym already, and I’m not even training to fight yet.”
He further added,
“If I fight Tom Aspinall, I’ll take him to the third round to see how he does, but Aspinall is no fool, he’s very experienced and has fought tough opponents, so I have to be smart and come up with a good strategy to beat him. To me, when the cage closes there, it’s a war. I’m ready for a war.”
Next Steps and Potential Impact on the Heavyweight Division
With Jon Jones stepping away from competition, the heavyweight division is undergoing a shift, opening the door for new challengers like Jailton Almeida to emerge. Should Almeida secure a fight against Aspinall, the bout could critically shape the future landscape of the heavyweight class. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if Almeida’s determination and experience translate into a championship-winning performance.