MMA Fighting (Miocic), © Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports (Aspinall)

Stipe Miocic Responds To Tom Aspinall's Frustrations About Next Title Shot, Clarifies Future: 'Once I Get This Win...'

Originally posted on MMA News | By Curtis Calhoun | Last updated 1/5/24

Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has a solution to Tom Aspinall's frustrations about the next title shot.

Miocic is expected to face UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones later this year for the heavyweight title. They were supposed to clash at UFC 295 before Jones withdrew from the event due to injury.

The Jones vs. Miocic fight is tentatively targeted for this summer, once Jones has fully recovered from his upper body injury. This will be Miocic's first fight since a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260.

Despite earning the interim heavyweight title at UFC 295, Aspinall won't get an immediate shot at the lineal heavyweight championship. Amidst this conundrum, he recently took to social media, questioning why Miocic deserves to fight Jones instead of him.

Miocic hasn't ruled out retirement after the Jones fight, but in a recent social media post, he appeared to pivot on that position.

Stipe Miocic Offers Tom Aspinall Future Unification Bout

In a recent tweet, Miocic responded to Aspinall's rant and offered a solution.

I have never caused a delay in the Jon fight.⁰⁰Tom, once I get this win, let’s talk to unify the belt.
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocic) January 5, 2024

"I have never caused a delay in the Jon fight," Miocic tweeted. "Tom, once I get this win, let's talk to unify the belt."

Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich by knockout for the interim heavyweight title last November. Before that, he defeated Marcin Tybura in London after a year away to recover from a leg injury.

Miocic is looking to get back in the win column at least one more time before he hangs up the gloves. He defeated UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier in their trilogy before the knockout loss to Ngannou.

Aspinall could potentially fight to defend the interim title before the Jones vs. Miocic fight. He's recently hinted at interest in facing the winner of Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida later this year.

If Miocic defeats Jones, Aspinall would be the most logical option for the next title shot, and Miocic seems open to sticking around for at least one more fight to make that happen.

This article first appeared on MMA News and was syndicated with permission.

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