With keen eyes fixed on last night’s interim heavyweight championship fight between Sergei Pavlovich, and Tom Aspinall, fellow division gold holder, Jon Jones has showered praise on the latter – describing his blistering first round knockout win over the Russian as an “awesome performance”.
Aspinall, who entered last night’s short-notice interim heavyweight title clash with Pavlovich as the number four ranked contender, turned in a spectacular opening round win over the surging Russian knockout artist, landing the interim heavyweight crown with a stunning KO victory inside the opening minute of the first frame.
Initially, the organization was set to host an undisputed heavyweight championship fight between Jones and former two-time division champion, Stipe Miocic at the Madison Square Garden event, until the former was forced from the main event return to New York after suffering a pectoral tendon tear in the weeks ahead of the bout.