UFC Champ Takes Shot at Jake Paul: "I've Not Had a Say in One Opponent Yet"

Is this UFC champion right to be frustrated with Paul?

Newly-crowned interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall isn’t impressed by the way Jake Paul has handled his combat sports career so far.

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A knockout victory over Marcin Tybura in July put Aspinall firmly in the UFC title picture heading into next year, but when Jon Jones was forced out of his heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 the Englishman stepped in on short-notice and knocked out Sergei Pavlovich to claim the division’s interim belt.

Dana White and the UFC appear committed to rebooking Jones vs. Miocic as soon as possible even though there’s now an interim champion in the title picture, and Aspinall recently spoke to Michael Bisping about what he learned from accepting a dangerous fight against Pavlovich.

Aspinall won the interim heavyweight title at UFC 295.  :: (Sarah Stier/USA TODAY Sports)

"It’s nice to find out what you’re all about in [those] situations," Aspinall said on Bisping's YouTube channel. "I can sit here now and speak openly and say I’m not scared of failing, because I’ve put myself out there plenty of times at this point. And last time in particular in the worst-case scenario I could possibly be in and I overcame that, and I won.”

Bisping has already suggested that the best way for his countryman to set up a fight with Jones is to defend his interim belt, while Aspinall himself says he’s keen on a matchup with Miocic while “Bones” recovers from his pec injury.

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The 30-year-old has been happy to take whatever matchup the UFC has offered since he joined the promotion from Cage Warriors in 2020, but now that Aspinall is only one fight away from becoming undisputed heavyweight champion he admits that it bothers him to see fighters like Paul try to manage risk when choosing their opponents.

Paul's biggest boxing wins have come against former MMA fighters.  :: (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

“There’s just a lot of people [that] talk a lot of s*** who’ve got no idea. And it’s hard not to be frustrated about that sometimes with guys like Jake Paul, who are picking the fights and doing all this. Mate, I’ve had eight UFC fights now. I’ve not had a say in one opponent yet.”

Paul’s first two professional boxing bouts in 2020 didn’t attract a massive amount of attention from the combat sports community, but starting with his knockout of Ben Askren in 2021 the 26-year-old has picked up a number of high-profile wins against former MMA fighters in the boxing ring.

“Problem Child” most recently defeated former UFC title challenger Nate Diaz and is now set to meet 12-fight boxing veteran Andre August in December.. Paul is expected to make his debut for the PFL sometime next year, and per Aspinall’s point there will be plenty of attention on who the 26-year-old may be matched with for his first MMA bout.

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