Aspinall already defended his interim belt once before Jon Jones retired and vacated the heavyweight title<\/a>, and now many fans are curious to see what an undisputed title reign may look like for the Englishman after he defeated a number of the division\u2019s top contenders on his way to the top. <\/p>\n Speaking with Spinnin Backfist<\/a> ahead of UFC 321, Aspinall was asked to elaborate on his previous claim that he wouldn\u2019t his belt against former PFL Heavyweight Champion Delija if the option was ever presented to him. <\/p>\n READ MORE: Reinier de Ridder reveals devastating setback that led to UFC Vancouver loss<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI definitely didn\u2019t say that to catch headlines, “Aspinall explained. “I was literally just speaking from the heart on that. I\u2019ve got a rule, where, if guys who have been in my house, and been around my family or vice versa, that I just can\u2019t envision myself fighting them at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Ante Delija (blue gloves) before the fight against Marcin Tybura (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. \/ Per Haljestam-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Currently the UFC\u2019s #9-ranked heavyweight contender, Delija knocked out perennial top-ranked heavyweight Marcin Tybura in the first round of his UFC debut in September and earned a \u201cPerformance of the Night\u201d bonus following his first trip to the Octagon.<\/p>\n Delija will try to keep climbing the rankings when he meets #6-ranked Waldo Cortes-Acosta<\/a> in November, but Aspinall is adamant that the pair won\u2019t be fighting one another while he still holds the division\u2019s title.<\/p>\n Tom Aspinall (blue gloves) reacts to beating Sergei Pavlovich (red gloves) during UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden. \/ Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s weird, because I\u2019m in a bit of a different position. Like, if both of us guys were kind of ready for a title shot, then we would have to fight, because it\u2019s both of our dreams. But I\u2019m already at the point where I am the champion, and he\u2019s still got a few fights to go. So, if everything works out well, that\u2019s never gonna be a problem for us, I don\u2019t think.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: UFC Vancouver fighter ignites Canada crowd with jaw-dropping knee to head<\/a><\/p>\n The lone setback in Aspinall\u2019s UFC career was a 15-second injury loss to Curtis Blaydes at UFC London in 2022, a result that he avenged in his most recent outing at UFC 304 when he defended the interim heavyweight belt by knocking Blaydes out in just 60 seconds. <\/p>\n Tom Aspinall (red gloves) fights Marcin Tybura (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. \/ Per Haljestam-Imagn Images<\/p>\n The Englishman\u2019s list of UFC wins already includes Top 10-ranked heavyweights Tybura, Sergei Spivac, Sergei Pavlovich, and Aexander Volkov<\/a> as well as Blaydes, and it will be interesting to see who the UFC might try to match Aspinall up with next if he\u2019s able to defeat #1-ranked Gane in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u2022 UFC\u2019s \u201cKing of Kung Fu\u201d returns to fight dangerous finisher following viral KO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 UFC Vancouver prelim fighter wastes opponent with savage 21-second KO<\/a> <\/p>\n \u2022 UFC Vancouver headliner loves chances vs. Khamzat Chimaev in potential next fight <\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 UFC legends set for trilogy fight on Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis boxing card<\/a><\/p>\n Stick with MMAKnockout<\/a> for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n Follow MMAKnockout on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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