Following the conclusion of perhaps one of the longest-running sagas in UFC history, the question now on UFC fans’ lips is who the new UFC Heavyweight Champion, Tom Aspinall, will fight next. The Englishman was announced as the new undisputed champion of the division by Dana White at the post-fight presser at UFC Fight Night: Baku, following the retirement of Jon Jones.
The news of Jon Jones’ retirement was disappointing news for UFC fans, not only because the sport has lost one of its most famous names and arguably the greatest fighter of all time, but also because the UFC has lost arguably the biggest matchup they could make, with many fans believing that Tom Aspinall may be the most likely contender to end Jones’ undefeated streak.
Despite the disappointing news, questions now surround how the heavyweight division will continue following Jones’ departure. Aspinall has not fought since July of next year, when he defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes. The UFC will be looking to get the division moving again, with Tom Aspinall pledging to be an ‘active champion’ on social media.
Cyril Gane: Most likely opponent?
It seems that Cyril Gane is the most likely candidate to take on Aspinall as he takes his third stab at undisputed status. Gane has previously challenged for the undisputed title twice, coming up short on both occasions. Both Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones used grappling to nullify the Frenchman’s slick striking, with Jones submitting Gane in round one and Ngannou using his grappling to grind out a decision victory.
Since last fighting for the title, Gane has fought twice, with his previous victory over Alexander Volkov last December leaving him as the most obvious candidate for the next title challenger. The victory was controversial, with many fans scoring it for Volkov. Still, Gane stands as the most likely challenger for Aspinall.
Francis Ngannou: A heavyweight clash for the ages
Perhaps a pipe dream, but with the fans missing out on perhaps the biggest UFC heavyweight fight of all time, maybe the return of the Cameroonian would be a good gesture on the part of the UFC. Ngannou hadn’t lost the title before leaving the UFC, so bringing him back would be a huge statement on the part of the UFC. Whilst Ngannou has had success outside the UFC, with his two fight purses against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua bringing him his highest fight purses, however, he has only competed once in the PFL.
Still, this one seems unlikely, with Dana White seemingly not too keen on the idea. Speaking at the UFC post-fight presser on Saturday, White said, “One thing I’ve learned over the years about Francis, Francis doesn’t always mean what he says publicly. Behind the scenes, it’s different from what he says publicly.” It would seem Ngannou’s return is unlikely, but it would perhaps serve to replace the Jones fight with a matchup of similar hype.
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