Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping pins Tom Aspinall to beat Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 on November 11. "The Count" believes Aspinall will become "the greatest heavyweight champion" in the sport's history:
"I believe he [Aspinall] makes it look relatively easy [against Pavlovich]," Bisping told TNT Sports. "...I think the skill set that he has, has got all the ingredients to get him the win here. ...I think he beats Jon Jones if that comes up... and he will retire as the greatest heavyweight champion that the UFC has ever seen."
It's fair to say Bisping is high on his fellow countryman, and his sentiment about Aspinall vs. Jones is something he's upheld since July:
"I don’t think he [Jones] can hold a candle to Tom," Bisping explained to Sky Sports. "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."
Aspinall himself believes he's a tough matchup for Jones. At his July 22 post-fight presser, Aspinall remarked, "I think I match up well [with Jones]."
"It's a dream fight of mine," Aspinall explained. "I'm big. I can do everything well, I'm fast, I'm strong, I'm heavy --- which isn't like a lot of his opponents...
"I just feel like I bring something different to him - I think he knows that as well, or he should know moving forward."
A fight between Aspinall and Jones seems feasible now that the British heavyweight is contending for an interim title at UFC 295. However, given Jones' injury, there is speculation about whether he will return to the octagon at all; only time will tell.
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