December 5, 2023 8:30 pm ET
Jailton Almeida wants to challenge interim UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall next.
Currently riding a 15-fight winning streak, Almeida (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) initially called out Ciryl Gane after his victory over Derrick Lewis last month. While he still thinks Gane makes sense for him, the Brazilian fighter has shifted his focus to Aspinall.
With heavyweight champ Jon Jones expected to defend his belt against Stipe Miocic upon his return from injury next year, Aspinall (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) won’t get to unify his belt anytime soon. Almeida suggests they fight each other in the meantime.
“A fight against Ciryl Gane would be perfect, but Tom Aspinall is already talking about a match with me,” Almeida told MMA Junkie. “So, I think the Tom Aspinall fight will probably come first.”
Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in just 69 seconds to claim interim gold, which Almeida was very impressed by. He believes a match with Aspinall would represent the future of the division.
“It will be a great fight because Tom Aspinall is a complete fighter,” Almeida said. “He has really good movement. I see myself as an equal in the sense that it will be a great, fair fight. It would be for the future of the division. It’s going to be the future fight for the title.”
Aspinall called for Jones to be stripped of the heavyweight title, but UFC CEO Dana White dismissed the idea. Almeida also disagrees.
“Jon Jones is still the best in the division,” Almeida said. “I believe Tom Aspinall might eventually get there, but for me, there is no doubt that Jon Jones is still No. 1.”
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