Current interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is all set to return to the Octagon in a few month’s time. The 31-year-old will take on Curtis Blaydes in an exciting heavyweight clash. This will be Aspinall’s first appearance after his emphatic UFC 295 victory against Sergei Pavlovich.

The last few months have been really teasing for the hard-hitting Brit after he showed his willingness to take on Jon Jones. However, it now seems that the interim champion is focusing on his next opponent and is a man on a mission.

Tom Aspinall is unfazed by the praises of MMA experts

Tom Aspinall shocked most MMA fans when he knocked out Pavlovich in the first round. Since then, the 31-year-old has gathered a lot of fans in the MMA world. However, according to him, what matters is what he does inside the ring and not the praise he receives outside it. In his latest interview, he said, “No, that’s people’s opinions. What does that matter really? It’s just what people say. That’s something that I’m learning as I’m growing. Just in life, what people say sometimes is pretty irrelevant right. People’s opinions of you, good or bad, it doesn’t really matter that much in the grand scheme of things.” 

One of Aspinall’s biggest fans is UFC color commentator Joe Rogan. The 56-year-old felt he could beat Jones in a fight if ever that happened. However, the Brit is unfazed by the praise in the light of his last victory and added, “Ultimately, I have to win fights that’s what’s important to me. What people say yeah it’s brilliant mate, it’s really nice that these people look up to Bisping, Joe Rogan etc. It’s really nice saying good stuff about me. But if they are saying bad stuff about me, it doesn’t, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really affect my life, not really.” For Aspinall, he takes it all in his stride and fights the fight that needs to be fought.

Since the time Aspinall won the interim belt, he qualified for a fight with Jones next, but the fight never materialized, which kind of angered the fans. In a recent interview, Tom Aspinall shared the exact reason for the delay.

Tom Aspinall shares the exact reason for him not taking on Jon Jones

Current heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been out of action for quite some time now. The 36-year-old suffered a shoulder injury in training before his UFC 295 fight. Now the champion is slowly getting back to fitness, much to the delight of the fans. He will be facing Stipe Miocic on his return, which has angered MMA fans. Most fans felt Jones would be taking on Aspinall on his comeback, but the champion never showed his interest in fighting him.

Frustrated by the lack of interest, Aspinall, in his latest interview, revealed the exact reason for the delay. He said, “Jones has his own rules, doesn’t he? And that’s between him and the UFC.” The 31-year-old further added about what he needs to do next and said, “I don’t know. I guess I have to prove myself more to get to his level of rules, I guess. I don’t know. Maybe that’s what I am doing wrong. I should start breaking more rules.”

Fortunately, the Brit will now have a chance to prove to the world as to why he is the interim heavyweight champion. However, there still lies a big question whether he can get his much-awaited clash with Jon Jones.

Do you feel Tom Aspinall can pull off a victory at UFC  304? Let us know in the comments below.