It’s been just over a year since the UFC has had an undisputed heavyweight champion.
Following Tom Aspinall’s interim title victory last November, reigning champion Jon Jones retained his belt in dominant fashion at UFC 309 to finally put his rivalry with fellow American Stipe Miocic to bed.
Jones, 37, has been largely dismissive of facing Aspinall next – instead targeting a bout with Alex Pereira – but has suggested he’s willing to “negotiate” a deal to fight the Briton.
UFC president Dana White says a unification bout between the pair would be the “biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history”.
Aspinall, 31, is the favourite to fight Jones. So at BBC Sport, we’ve looked at the numbers.
Here is the case for Aspinall (15-3) to fight Jones (28-1-1NC) and how the pair compare statistically.
Aspinall’s all-time UFC records
A former light-heavyweight champion who at 23 became the youngest title holder in UFC history, Jones is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time after winning 28 of his 30 MMA bouts.
His one defeat was a disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009, while his win over Daniel Cormier in 2017 was recorded as a no-contest after Jones subsequently failed a doping test.
Jones’ argument for not wanting to fight Aspinall is the bout “does nothing” for his legacy, adding the younger man hasn’t “proven or done anything”.
However, statistics show the Mancunian has produced astonishing figures in just nine fights in the UFC.
He currently holds a number of records, including:
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The shortest fight time average in UFC history at 2:02
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The shortest bottom position time in UFC history at 0:01
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The highest striking differential in UFC history at 5.18
Aspinall is also second in the all-time record books for:
But perhaps Aspinall’s most striking stat is his 93% first-round finish rate.
He has won an extraordinary 14 of 15 career victories inside the opening five minutes.
How do Jones and Aspinall compare?
Aspinall’s efficiency means, remarkably, he has never been past the second round.
That statistic means question marks remain over his endurance levels, although he previously told BBC Sport that cardio is one of his secret weapons.
With eight first-round finishes, Jones has fewer than Aspinall, but has shown time and time again his ability to win a variety of different stylistic fights.
Whether it’s dominating with his grappling like he did against Ciryl Gane last year or grinding out a decision like his gruelling victory over Alexander Gustafsson in 2013, Jones usually works out a way to win.
Although Aspinall doesn’t hold victories over multiple former champions and hall-of-famers like Jones, he has beaten five of the top-eight ranked heavyweights.
When it comes to striking, Aspinall utilises his fearsome knockout power by largely targeting the head, while Jones appears to mix up his attacks more.
Any grappling exchanges between the pair would be fascinating. Aspinall spends 0.09% of this UFC fights in bottom position, the lowest in UFC history, while Jones is third lowest on the list at 0.19%.
Jones, at 95%, also has the second-highest takedown defence in UFC history.
Aspinall has a 100% takedown defence but the UFC only add it their record books when a fighter has faced a minimum of 20 takedowns – something Aspinall is yet to do.
Aspinall or Pereira?
After playing down the prospect of fighting Aspinall, Jones described a potential Pereira matchup as a “legacy bout”.
The former middleweight champion, 37, captured the light-heavyweight title in 2023 before making three successful defences this year, all by knockout.
Despite his impressive form, the Brazilian doesn’t top any statistic in the UFC’s all-time record lists, although at 67.2%, he does hold a divisional record for significant strike accuracy.
If Jones and Pereira were to fight at heavyweight, the Brazilian would also have the opportunity at becoming the UFC’s first three-division champion.
Despite White’s reservations, Pereira’s popularity with fans and the stakes of the contest – Jones’ undefeated streak versus Pereira’s attempt at winning three belts – mean it’s not a bout many would be opposed to.
Aspinall has poked fun at Jones for targeting Pereira, suggesting the American is ducking him, while Jones has made light of the situation by changing his display picture on social media to a duck wearing a UFC title.
Which matchup would you like to see?
