UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has his next fight

The recently-promoted champion is living up to his promise to remain active.

Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

Tom Aspinall finally has good news.

It took a few weeks to sort out, but Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) could be fighting before year's end, according to the man himself.

In an interview with Adam Catterall, Aspinall said he has his plans to remain at the top of the division, beginning with his first opponent.

Tom Aspinall Teases Next UFC Fight

Nov 11, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Tom Aspinall (blue gloves) reacts to beating Sergei Pavlovich (red gloves) during UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

"Meetings have been done and I now have a fight," Aspinall said. "We've got a date, we've got an opponent to work towards."

🚨 Tom Aspinall says he's met with the UFC and has an opponent and date set for his next fight 👀

"Meetings have been done and I now have a fight...

We've got a date, we've got an opponent to work towards."

(via One on One) #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/xKPvDTE6IE

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 3, 2025

After nearly a year of inactivity, Aspinall's clarity leaves him excited about what comes next.

Tom Aspinall says he’d like to clean out the top ten in the next 12 months 🔥💪

"I'd like to do 4 [fights] in the next 12 months. If you look at the top ten, I have beaten 6 of them. My goal is to beat ten of the top ten. I wanna beat all ten."

(via: One on One MMA) pic.twitter.com/GzlBmeobCS

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 3, 2025

Tom Aspinall Lays Out Lofty Goals

Mar 22, 2025; London, England, United Kingdom; Tom Aspinall, UFC Heavyweight fighter, watches as Marcin Tybura (red gloves) fights against Mick Parkin (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images | Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

‘I'd like to do four [fights] in the next 12 months," Aspinall said. "If you look at the Top 10, I have beaten six of them. My goal is to beat 10 of the Top 10. I wanna beat all 10.’

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Aspinall is focused on the present, not the past. With former UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones retired, Aspinall said recently he wants to be the focus of the division, with zero regard for the aforementioned Jones.

"I'm done with that with now, and I'm ready to move on," Aspinall told Ariel Helwani. "I've been talking about Jon Jones, I was happy to talk about Jon Jones to get the fight, and now the fight is not there, so I'm just like, 'Let's just move on.'"

Aspinall did not hint at an opponent, but rumblings have begun to suggest Ciryl Gane as the next challenger - despite him already having two failed attempts at winning a world title.

"I cared about the heavyweight title," Aspinall said regarding the Jones' saga. "That's all I've ever been bothered about, recognition for being the best heavyweight walking around planet Earth, so I'm just relieved that I can just fight again."

With Aspinall's recent update, a soon-to-be title defense is inevitable, alongside a new era in one of MMA's most prominent divisions.

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