UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall recently engaged in a training session with popular UK content creator known as `Angry Ginge`. As might be anticipated, the encounter on the mats between the elite fighter and the influencer unfolded predictably, offering `Angry Ginge` a humorous, yet perhaps humbling, glimpse into high-level grappling.
Aspinall continues his quest for a championship unification bout against the lineal UFC heavyweight titleholder, Jon Jones. However, discussions regarding this potential superfight have reached an uncertain phase. While awaiting clarity on his path to undisputed gold, Aspinall remains active in training, recently demonstrating his skills at the expense of one of the UK`s prominent online personalities.
Aspinall`s most recent fight was in July at UFC 304, where he successfully defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes. Following this defense, Aspinall refocused his attention on securing a fight for the undisputed championship, ideally against the victor of the planned Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic bout.
Jones ultimately defeated Miocic via late finish, retaining his lineal heavyweight championship in his first title defense after a long layoff. Subsequently, Jones hinted that negotiations were underway with the UFC to potentially arrange the unified title fight against Aspinall.
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Aspinall`s Grappling Clinic for `Angry Ginge`
Aspinall welcomed `Angry Ginge` to his gym with the intention of teaching him some fundamental mixed martial arts techniques. Given Aspinall`s status as one of the UFC`s top fighters, his insights into both striking and ground fighting are considerable.
The training session began with some basic boxing instruction. Aspinall, who boasts multiple knockout victories over notable opponents, guided Ginge through proper stance, technique, and hitting pads. Ginge appeared to be a willing and receptive student during the standing portion.
However, the situation became notably different once they transitioned to ground work.
In one entertaining sequence, Aspinall challenged `Angry Ginge` to attempt controlling him from a full mount position. Predictably, the influencer was completely unsuccessful in maintaining any form of control or achieving a viral moment through grappling prowess. Later, Aspinall initiated another scenario starting from side mount, playfully daring Ginge to strike him with ground-and-pound as hard as he could while Aspinall worked his way to a better position or back up. This showcased Aspinall`s complete control and the immense difficulty of generating offense or escaping against an elite grappler.
A video documenting these interactions was part of the original content, illustrating Aspinall`s dominance and providing `Angry Ginge` a direct experience of the challenging reality of MMA groundwork.
Update on the Potential Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones Fight
The prospect of Aspinall finally facing Jon Jones for the undisputed title recently encountered a potential obstacle. Jones reportedly hinted at the end of his fighting career during a recent conversation, telling another fighter “I`m done” when asked about his future activity, suggesting a possible retirement announcement might be imminent.
Despite this, UFC CEO Dana White has publicly maintained a `relaxed` stance regarding the negotiations to finalize the Jones vs. Aspinall fight. However, White has also stated that he has not ruled out the possibility of stripping Jones of his championship belt if the discussions fail to advance towards an agreement. This would undoubtedly be a disappointing conclusion for Aspinall, who has been patiently awaiting his opportunity to unify the heavyweight division.
Regardless of the outcome concerning Jon Jones` status, Tom Aspinall is widely expected to compete for the undisputed heavyweight championship later this year, whether the opponent is Jones or another highly ranked contender. As for Jones, his legendary career in the Octagon may indeed be drawing to a close.
Gareth Tenby 
Duncan Priestley