UFC commentator and former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has nothing but faith in his fellow Englishman, heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall.
With Aspinall’s comeback from a gruesome knee injury complete – a first-round knockout at UFC London last week – Bisping expects Aspinall to steamroll heavyweight champ Jon Jones. In fact, although Jones is a regular contender for the title of MMA GOAT, Bisping told Sky Sport that believes he doesn’t “hold a candle” to Aspinal’s ability.
Michael Bisping: Jon Jones Doesn’t “Hold A Candle” To Rising UFC Star Tom Aspinall
“Tom Aspinall was utterly fantastic. That’s one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from a heavyweight. Marcin Tybura, the guy that he beat, is no walk in the park.
He’s won seven of his last eight against world-class opposition, and Tom just blew threw him like he was nothing. And I do, 100 percent, believe he will be the champion.
In fact, I know he will be the champion, barring any freak injury or something terrible or bad luck happens. He will be the champion of the world.
Jon Jones is the heavyweight champion. He’s an incredible fighter. He’s incredible. He’s one of the greatest of all-time. I don’t think he can hold a candle to Tom.
I think Tom will do the same thing to Jon Jones as what he did to Marcin Tybura. I don’t think there’s anyone that can stop Tom Aspinall. He’s that good. He’s that switched on.”
Although Aspinall has not yet proved his mettle against the very best of the best in the UFC heavyweight rankings, his skill in the Octagon has long been on display.
“We haven’t seen him tested, and often you want to see that from a fighter, because if you’re going to be a hammer and a nail, you’ve got to be able to dish it out but you’ve got to be able to take it, and then mentally reset at the end of a round and go out stronger and confident.
So we haven’t seen if he has that ability, right? But let’s just assume he has, because I speak to his dad, I speak to all his training partners.
His training partners are absolutely gigantic, by the way, and apparently they give it to him in training. So he’s not in the position where he’s at if he was the type of guy that would quit on himself.
He’s beaten a lot of ranked guys. He’s beaten former champions, of course.The top two guys are Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones, OK? And they will be a step up. Of course they will.
They’re both fighting in Madison Square Garden in November. I think he should fight the winner of that, or maybe a Sergei Pavlovich.”
