Like so many other champions in the UFC today, Tom Aspinall would one day like to move to the sweet science, at least for some fun.<\/p>\n
Since Conor McGregor took part in one of the biggest fights of all time, crossing over to box Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017, numerous UFC champions have tried to lobby for a shift over to boxing, and the increased paycheck that comes with it. And heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is no exception.<\/p>\n
In a video Aspinall posted to his YouTube<\/a> over the weekend, the UFC heavyweight champion is training with influencer boxer Tommy Fury and chatting about a number of things, when Fury asks Aspinall about moving to boxing, which prompts this response.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Aspinall said. \u201cI\u2019d never be a world \u2014 I won\u2019t try and be a world champion [in boxing]. You need to dedicate your life to be world champion. I was [good at boxing], but I\u2019ve spent my whole life doing MMA now. I\u2019m nearly 33 now. So, for me to be like 33 and think I\u2019m gonna win a world title in boxing is unrealistic.\u201d<\/p>\n Aspinall is far from the only fighter to share these sorts of ambitions. Ilia Topuria won the lightweight title this summer and already has designs on leaving MMA<\/a> for the squared circle in the near future, and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou did actually leave for a foray into boxing. But while most UFC champions are calling for boxing fights against some of the best pugilists on the planet, Aspinall, at least, seems to realize that\u2019s not a competition he can win.<\/p>\n Instead, Aspinall has a much more reasonable take on what a boxing run might look like and acknowledges that, first, he has his MMA career to focus on.<\/p>\n \u201cI could have a couple like, not freak-show fights but big fights,\u201d Aspinall said. \u201cA big name or something. \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t mind boxing an MMA fighter. I think [Ngannou] would be good. I\u2019ve got fights in the UFC to do first.\u201d<\/p>\n Aspinall recently made the first defense of his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, but the fight ended in a no-contest after Aspinall suffered an eye injury in the first round from illegal pokes. Aspinall is still in recovery from that, but is expected to run things back with Gane next year.<\/p>\n Boxing. Ilia Topuria says it won\u2019t be \u2018too long\u2019 before he leaves MMA for boxing<\/a>.<\/p>\n What. Former UFC fighter Alex Garcia arrested in near-$2 million cocaine raid<\/a>. Huh.<\/p>\n Vacation. Paddy Pimblett sees a scenario where he goes from interim champion to undisputed champion<\/a> with Ilia Topuria out of the equation.<\/p>\n Warning. Manel Kape sends warning message<\/a> to Joshua Van after UFC Vegas 112 win, Van responds.<\/p>\n All good? There is no beef<\/a> between the UFC and Arman Tsarukyan, according to Dana White.<\/p>\n Shudder. Check out this disgusting broken leg<\/a> from a show in Brazil at your own risk.<\/p>\n Every finish from UFC Vegas 112.<\/p>\n The UFC\u2019s thank you package for ESPN.<\/p>\n Daniel Cormier reacts to UFC Vegas 112.<\/p>\n Submission Radio with Jed Meshew.<\/p>\n On To the Next One. MMA Fighting\u2019s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee debate whether Manel Kape or Tatsura Taira are next for flyweight champion Joshua Van after Kape\u2019s incredible knockout of Brandon Royval, plus more matchup picks for UFC Vegas 112\u2019s big winners<\/p>\n SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE<\/p>\n Khabib knows how to party.<\/p>\n Merab isn\u2019t mad. Definitely not stuck on this.<\/p>\n Something to look forward to.<\/p>\n Kyoji Horiguchi (35-5) vs. Amir Albazi (17-2); UFC Vegas 113, Feb. 7<\/p>\n Brandon Moreno (23-9-2) vs. Asu Almabayev (23-3); UFC Mexico City, Feb. 28<\/p>\n Macy Chiasson (10-5) vs. Ailin Perez (12-2); UFC Mexico City, Feb. 28<\/p>\n Edgar Chairez (12-6, 1 NC) vs. Felipe Bunes (14-8); UFC Mexico City, Feb. 28<\/p>\n Imanol Rodriguez (6-0) vs. Kevin Borjas (10-4); UFC Mexico City, Feb. 28<\/p>\n Jose Medina (11-6) vs. Ryan Gandra (8-1); UFC Mexico City, Feb. 28<\/p>\n Wesley Schultz (8-2) vs. Damian Pinas (8-1); UFC Mexico City, Feb. 28<\/p>\n Costello van Steenis (17-3) vs. Fabian Edwards (16-4); PFL Madrid, March 20<\/p>\n A.J. McKee (23-2) vs. Adam Borics (20-3); PFL Madrid, March 20<\/p>\n I respect that Tom at least isn\u2019t lying about his boxing aspirations. This is something to do for fun and money, you\u2019re not going to beat anyone good. Much better to at least own it.<\/p>\n But man, it would be way cooler if MMA paid champions like real professional athletes so they weren\u2019t always looking for the first exit ramp outta here. Imagine if Tom Brady won the Super Bowl and then was like, \u201cCool, now that I\u2019ve done that, what I\u2019d really like to do is play baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n If you find something you\u2019d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee<\/a> or @JedKMeshew<\/a> on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n