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As the dust settles at UFC 304, Jon Jones took to social media to send a cryptic message to Tom Aspinall.

Aspinall has been publicly pursuing Jones for the past year to no resolve. The Brit may be in the strongest position that he’s ever been in to get his dream fight, and his recent performance has caught the attention of the heavyweight king.

Moments after securing a first round knockout against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, Tom Aspinall took his opportunity to call out Jon Jones.

“Who wants to see Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones?” Aspinall said during his octagon interview. “I have nothing against you personally, but I just think I’m better than you.”

“I just know that I can beat you in a fight, so, I’m coming for it.”

Aspinall’s dominant run in the division has added immense value to a potential super-fight to unify the undisputed and interim titles. While Jones still has his sights set on a fight with Stipe Miocic, his latest cryptic post on X may confirm that he’s beginning to take an interest in the matchup.

Supply and demand at its finest, I love it.

— BONY (@JonnyBones) July 28, 2024

Speculation is mounting around Jon Jones’ future in the sport. Win, lose or draw against Stipe Miocic, many believe the New Mexico native could hang up the gloves and walk away from the octagon forever.

Related: Tom Aspinall challenges Jon Jones to prove him wrong

While neither Jones nor Stipe have anything left to prove, Dana White believes that a matchup between either of the legends and rising star Tom Aspinall would be huge for the division.

All eyes are now set on the heavyweight title clash which is rumored for November at Madison Square Garden.

If retirement isn’t on the cards, fans could get their wishes. Dana White confirmed during the pre-fight press conference that Tom Aspinall collide with the winner of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, likely some time next year.

Check it out below.

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Curtis Blaydes landed a stiff jab to open his UFC 304 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event against interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall last weekend in Manchester, but instead of staying patient and building on his offense, “Razor” got greedy.

It cost him the fight — and the chance to usurp the substitute strap.

“Sorry guys, I got greedy when I touched him early and threw out the amazing gameplan that my coaches Vinnie Lopez and Cody Donovan came up with that would’ve worked, I’m sure of it,” Blaydes wrote on Facebook. “No excuses. Tom was on point tonight. I know this isn’t the end of my journey but dammit, I know I’m better than tonight’s performance. I appreciate all the support, truly it’s been an eye opening experience to have so many people rocking with me.”

Aspinall avenged his previous loss to “Razor” at UFC London in summer 2022.

Blaydes is currently ranked No. 4 in the 265-pound division and is unlikely to lose any ground when the updated rankings are released later this week. The 33 year-old heavyweight drops to 18-5 (1 NC) with his UFC 304 loss to the “Honey Badger.”

For more UFC 304 results and fallout click here.

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The Mixed Martial Arts Hour is back in your life! Below is a rundown of Monday’s show, which begins at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. UK time.

Ariel Helwani calls in from Paris for the Summer Olympics to break down all the action and storylines from UFC 304 with Eric Jackman and Conner Burks, plus much more.

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Off the back of his stunning first round knockout win over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 overnight to successfully defend his interim heavyweight crown, fans, pundits, and fellow fighters have campaigned for Tom Aspinall to replace Stipe Miocic in a return at UFC 309 later this year against fellow gold holder, Jon Jones.

Aspinall, who returned to his native Manchester overnight at the Co-op Live Arena, managed to successfully defend his interim heavyweight crown in spectacular fashion – taking on perennial challenger, Blaydes in a title rematch.

And avenging his 2022 loss to Blaydes, Aspinall laid out the veteran contender inside just a minute – courtesy of a gutsy overhand right strike, sending the former to the canvas before swarming with ground strikes for a technical knockout stoppage.

Welcoming the chance to take on Rochester veteran, Jones next in a title unification matchup, Aspinall has received backing from a host of fighters – including promotional alum, Derek Brunson to “replace” Ohio veteran, Miocic and compete at Madison Square Garden again this year.

“Jon Jones v. Tom Aspinall is a must, scrap the Stipe fight! I speak for everyone,” Derek Brunson posted on his official X account.

Tom Aspinall calls for title fight with Jon Jones next

Sharing his thoughts on the state of affairs at heavyweight, Aspinall claimed Jones was likely praying to the mixed martial arts Gods for a Blaydes victory in the United Kingdom.

“Jon’s (Jones) the undisputed champion, but I’m the best in the world, if that makes any sense,” Tom Aspinall told assembled media after UFC 304. “We know what Jon’s doing, Jon was there, crossing how fingers and toes tonight hoping I’d lose to Curtis (Blaydes).”

“Let’s not bullsh*t about it – he posted about it loads anyway that I’m going to lose to him,” Tom Aspinall explained. “That didn’t happen, so that’s the fight I want next.”

Who do you think wins in a future title fight: Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall?

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UFC 304 took place this past Saturday at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.  A championship belt changed hands in the main event, an interim titleholder staked his claim as the best in the world in the co-main event, and a rising star picked up the biggest win of his career.  

Former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya watched the event live and posted his realtime reaction to the fights to his YouTube channel.    

UFC 304 featured a welterweight title bout rematch between then-champion Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad.  The two first fought in March 2021, but the bout ended in a no contest after an accidental eye poke rendered Muhammad unable to continue.  Muhammad dominated Edwards in the rematch, winning by unanimous decision.  Muhammad also made history by becoming the first Palestinian UFC champion.  

Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall successfully defended his belt in the UFC 304 co-main event making short work of challenger Curtis Blaydes.  Leading into the two title fights, rising lightweight star Paddy Pimblett picked up the biggest win over his career choking out UFC veteran King Green in the first round.  

“The triangle (choke) was slick.  I’ve got to give it up.  Good job,” Adesanya said about Pimblett submission win over Green.  “I did not think Bobby (King) was going to shoot.  Literally, in the breakdown I said, ‘how is Paddy going to win?’  On the feet, I was like, ‘Okay, Bobby’s in the bag,’ but then he shot.  Oh well.  He (Pimblett) f***ing capitalized on it, though… Now watch him get up to 500 pounds in the next two days.”  

After Aspinall stopped Blaydes in 60 seconds, Adesanya repeated said, “He’s too fast, bro.  He’s too fast.”  Adesanya then expressed frustration with the state of the promotion’s heavyweight title picture. 

Related: Tom Aspinall challenges Jon Jones to prove him wrong

“So we’re going to wait until when, until Jon [Jones] fights Stipe [Miocic], and what’s going to happen to him (Aspinall) in the meantime?  It’s just silly.  Let’s get straight to the point,” Adesanya said.  “The winner of that fight, fight Stipe.”

Adesanya picked Edwards to retain his belt in the main event but quickly became a fan of Muhammad as the fight played out.     

“What a story for Belal to do that after coming back from the eye poke, now this, in his backyard, saying it the whole time, everybody doubting him, including me,” Adesanya said about Muhammad becoming welterweight champion.  “Give it up to him.  What a story.  Good job.

“Can you imagine what that feels like for him right now?  And all the Palestinians right now that could use him.  He can be a force for them.  I love these moments.”  

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