Now that Tom Aspinall is the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, he needs an opponent to defend against.
Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) sparked rumors of his interest in fighting Alex Pereira when he was captured staring down the former light heavyweight champion while he was in the prep point for his UFC 300 bout against Jamahal Hill. Aspinall assured that he was just showing interest in human body language, and not necessarily sizing up Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) before a potential fight.
“I’ve seen the pictures when I’m like staring at him,” Aspinall told ESPN MMA. “If you watch me at any event, I’ll stand and stare at the flyweights like that. Not because I’m trying to intimidate them, because I really enjoy studying people’s psychology before the fight. I just like watching the body language, what they’re doing, how they’re behaving and stuff. Maybe I’ll learn something, who knows? I might learn something from someone else. I’m constantly studying the way people are acting, because it interests me.”
While Aspinall’s staredown may not have been fight-related, Pereira has entertained the idea of a move up to the heavyweight division. Should that move happen in pursuit of a UFC title in a third weight class, “Poatan” could cross paths with the heavyweight champ.
Aspinall isn’t against the idea, but he doesn’t see it happening just yet, because Pereira has unfinished business with the man who took his title, Magomed Ankalaev.
“I don’t know, he’s got business to do at light heavy,” Aspinall said. “He’s just lost his title in a tough fight. I think that Ankalaev remains to be a tough matchup for him. Let’s see if he gets through the next one.
“In my opinion, Magomed Ankalaev doesn’t get enough respect. Like, the guy has run through everybody. He just beat a long-standing champion and he should be given respect in his own right for being a champion. It’s a tough fight for Alex, definitely a fight Alex can win. We’ve seen him, how powerful he is and stuff. I think as far as his move up to heavyweight, I think – I’m only speaking as if I was in his position, I’d want to get that one back first.”
The interest in seeing “Poatan” move up to heavyweight is partially due to the lack of big names currently residing in the heavyweight division. Aspinall agrees the state of the division has been stronger in prior years, but believes it will bounce back in due time.
“It’s been better, but it can get better for sure,” Aspinall said. “I think that when we’re talking about the Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos days, Brock Lesnar involved and all that kind of people – Fabricio Werdum and etc., etc. That’s when it was at its peak. Now it’s not got as many big names involved, but that’s there to be changed. There’s plenty of good guys there. I think that in the next few years we’re going to see some really good fights with the heavyweights.”