Curtis Blaydes considers his upcoming interim heavyweight title fight against Tom Aspinall at UFC 304 the real title fight in the division.
Lineal champ Jon Jones has been sidelined since pulling out of a scheduled title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November 2023. Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in a short-notice title fight at UFC 295 and has since been calling for a unification bout against Jones. However, Jones remains adamant on returning to action against Miocic, who hasn’t fought in over three years.