Tom Aspinall will be the HW champ in 2023

[Schnitzl]

Don't even @ me. He caught my eye as the best prospect to take the belt, back during his debut in Abu Dhabi and I've been on the hype train ever since.

Kid is young, powerful, best jits skills in HW by far (I believe his dad got him into it back in 2005) and is an all around high fight IQ athlete. Jab out of this world from his boxing background and not really many weaknesses.

If he gets through Volkov, he's gonna get either Blaydes or Stipe depending on whether Gane gets another shot right away. I see him finishing Stipe in a devastating fashion but Blaydes might hump him for 3 rounds which is the only way his run will get cut short.

After Gane showed his ground game weakness, he's easy pray for Aspinall. I just don't see anyone beating him comfortably at the current thin HW lineup.

[AdamSMW]

Nope

[Gringo12]

Don't even @ me. He caught my eye as the best prospect to take the belt, back during his debut in Abu Dhabi and I've been on the hype train ever since.

Kid is young, powerful, best jits skills in HW by far (I believe his dad got him into it back in 2005) and is an all around high fight IQ athlete. Jab out of this world from his boxing background and not really many weaknesses.

If he gets through Volkov, he's gonna get either Blaydes or Stipe depending on whether Gane gets another shot right away. I see him finishing Stipe in a devastating fashion but Blaydes might hump him for 3 rounds which is the only way his run will get cut short.

After Gane showed his ground game weakness, he's easy pray for Aspinall. I just don't see anyone beating him comfortably at the current thin HW lineup.

Imagine.

And lol at saying ganes ground game is bad. He stayed out of all compromising positions and even stood back up multiple times against an opponent stronger and 40lbs heavier . Bjj guys aren't great at taking people down and gane far outclasses anyone in the division on their feet. He also has the best clinch game with maybe Jones as an equal.

You're falling prey to recency bias, gane beats ngannou in a rematch, and then nobody is beating gane that's currently in the hw division, not even Jones.

I like aspinall, we will probably see him fight gane this year

[ninetynine8]

he wouldn't beat gane or a 40 year old Ngannou

[Schnitzl]

You're falling prey to recency bias, gane beats ngannou in a rematch, and then nobody is beating gane that's currently in the hw division, not even Jones.

I like aspinall, we will probably see him fight gane this year

We'll see. Your boy Gane has been fighting in the UFC 11 months longer than Aspinall. I don't know if you can throw recency bias in here since it's been almost 2 years from his first fight in the big game and he has dominated everyone so far including experienced Arlovski and Spivak who looked really good in his last 3 before getting KOed. We can argue until the cows come home but that doesn't change the fact that he's going to be a champ next year.

[Cartiac]

Imagine.

And lol at saying ganes ground game is bad. He stayed out of all compromising positions and even stood back up multiple times against an opponent stronger and 40lbs heavier . Bjj guys aren't great at taking people down and gane far outclasses anyone in the division on their feet. He also has the best clinch game with maybe Jones as an equal.

You're falling prey to recency bias, gane beats ngannou in a rematch, and then nobody is beating gane that's currently in the hw division, not even Jones.

I like aspinall, we will probably see him fight gane this year

Haha, I see what you did there. You've definitely need a great imagination to picture a world where anything you wrote could be true. 40lbs? Outclasses anyone on their feet? Best clinch game? Winning the rematch? Beating Jones? Wow great stuff dude! John Lennon couldn't even imagine that crazy shyte.

[Schnitzl]

Just bumping this to remind everyone

[mp83]

I think there's a legit chance of it

[adamsz]

hard to say

has he even been out of the 1st or 2nd round?

need to see him go the distance with someone to see his gas tank and how he deals with adversity

[sooby]

Arlovski, Spivak and Volkov are legit opponents,

he needs to beat one big name in the top 5.

I'm assuming Tai and Gane will fight it out for an interim belt. He should probably fight Blaydes or Miocic.

[Schnitzl]

Arlovski, Spivak and Volkov are legit opponents,

he needs to beat one big name in the top 5.

I'm assuming Tai and Gane will fight it out for an interim belt. He should probably fight Blaydes or Miocic.

I'd love to see that. They're gonna do Tai dirty to throw him in with Tom, let Tai go with Gane and Tom with Blaydes. Miocic would be fun against Jon Jones but that's going to happen when Stipe is 48 at this tempo.

[dingler]

Have to see how he does against tua or one of the giant ultra athletic black dudes gane, Francis, Lewis, blaydes etc...

[Schnitzl]

This thread aged very randomly since a year ago with some of the replies here and Aspinall's injury so I'm moving the date to 2024 but still say he is the one to take the throne.

[akmerle]

Have to see how he does against tua or one of the giant ultra athletic black dudes gane, Francis, Lewis, blaydes etc...

While it was very short and anticlimactic, he was getting legit handled by Blaydes before his knee blew out.

I agree he has a lot of promise, but he has a LOT of work to do.

The list of guys who look like world beaters / future champs early on against low and mid level fighters, who ultimately end up never doing much is a mile long.

But with how shallow the talent pool is currently at HW, any of the 5-10 ranked guys are only two wins away from fighting. No log jam at the top at all with guys who have title shot worthy recent work.

[Schnitzl]

While it was very short and anticlimactic, he was getting legit handled by Blaydes before his knee blew out.

I agree he has a lot of promise, but he has a LOT of work to do.

The list of guys who look like world beaters / future champs early on against low and mid level fighters, who ultimately end up never doing much is a mile long.

But with how shallow the talent pool is currently at HW, any of the 5-10 ranked guys are only two wins away from fighting. No log jam at the top at all with guys who have title shot worthy recent work.

Bumping this thread after Aspinall merked Tybura. I 100% believe he will rek Gane Spivac winner and there's no question he should have Jones before JBJ retires. He is the new breed of HWs that Gane wish he was. One of the best BJJ & boxing skills in HW, fast, cerebral and just an overall beast.

[sooby]

Bumping this thread after Aspinall merked Tybura. I 100% believe he will rek Gane Spivac winner and there's no question he should have Jones before JBJ retires. He is the new breed of HWs that Gane wish he was. One of the best BJJ & boxing skills in HW, fast, cerebral and just an overall beast.

Jones might retire, but I agree Aspinall should be that last guy, other than that absolutely no one will be able to beat him in HW IMO. He needs to fight Gane, could take another year before he gets a title shot.

[achtungpanzer]

Did everyone just forget about Pavlovich?

This.

[akmerle]

Did everyone just forget about Pavlovich?

Will be interesting what they do with him assuming JBJ wins and then retires in November. Him vs. Gane for the vacant title on New Years card could work, but don’t think they will give Gane that shot again.

Id really like to see an Aspinal vs. Blaydes rematch around that same time as well.

Or maybe have Pavlovich vs. Gane on New Years, with Aspinal vs. Blaydes rematch early Spring, with Pavlovich / Gane vs. Aspinal / Blaydes winners for vacant HW title next summer would be fun.

[iloveus]

Jones might retire, but I agree Aspinall should be that last guy, other than that absolutely no one will be able to beat him in HW IMO. He needs to fight Gane, could take another year before he gets a title shot.

Why would Jones retire?

He's only had 1 fight in HW

[sooby]

Why would Jones retire?

He's only had 1 fight in HW

he said he would retire

[iloveus]

he said he would retire

Completely lame if he did.

[Schnitzl]

Bump ayyy

[sooby]

heh OP was right, although it was an interim belt but still. very impressive KO.

[stayhomeneet]

Good fighter but idk how much chance I'd give him vs Jones

[TheGattingBall]

Let's be real, this interim belt is as good as the real belt. There's absolutely no way Jonny Bones fights Aspinall. He wanted his easy win against a 42 year old and then ride off into the sunset.

Now there's an interim champ he has to fight Aspinall. Which he won't. Aspinall will be elevated when jones retires.

[Gringo12]

Coming in to take my L.

Aspinal is great. That speed is other worldly at this weight class. I always knew he was good but this Aspinal walks through jones

[ninetynine8]

I still stand by my Ngannou statement. He gets tagged every fight and Ngannou has a granite chin. I mentioned in the thread how Sergeis chin hasn't been tested. He isn't a white Ngannou

[adamsz]

based prediction