Tom Aspinall would have loved to be in the Octagon on Saturday night, fighting Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.
However, the UFC interim heavyweight champion was paid handsomely as Jones’ and Stipe Miocic’s backup. The public wasn’t supposed to know how much Aspinall or any other backup fighter is paid to be the failsafe, but thanks to someone with access to the interim champion, a screenshot of a text message conversation with the UFC’s Hunter Campbell went semi-viral.
Aspinall was paid $200,000 to serve as the backup for Jones-Miocic.
The message related to Aspinall inquiring whether it would be OK if he had a drink, considering it seemed pretty clear both Jones and Miocic were going to compete. Campbell appeared to tell Aspinall he preferred if he waited until Jones and Miocic made their walk to the Octagon.
As you probably know, both Jones and Miocic competed. Jones destroyed Miocic via third-round TKO. Miocic retired, and Aspinall collected a fat check for simply making weight and showing up on time.
Aspinall’s responsibilities as a backup were pretty simple. Be under 265 pounds and ready to fight either man should the other find themselves unable to compete for any reason. Aspinall weighed in successfully on Friday.
Aspinall vlogged the entire experience, from riding to Madison Square Garden through the main event after a conversation with UFC President Dana White and Campbell. There are several segments in the video when Aspinall inquires about having a drink, which makes the leak all the more believable.
At this point, Aspinall has to be next for a shot at the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship if Jones decides to fight him. Jones has maintained he is most interested in a fight with current light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
After UFC 309, Jones said he would need an obscene payday to fight Aspinall, as he is not interested in doing so. If Jones stays steadfast on a fight with Pereira, he will vacate the heavyweight title, and Aspinall will be elevated into that spot.
If that’s how Aspinall is crowned heavyweight champion, it wouldn’t be the most ideal coronation. Aspinall has proven himself to be a competitor, and he has chased a fight with Jones for almost a year. However, Aspinall made it clear he would not wait around for a fight with Jones like Michael Chandler waited on an opportunity to fight Conor McGregor–as that chance and payday never came.
If Aspinall becomes the undisputed heavyweight champion, he could be the division’s king for a long time. The division is in the weakest state it’s been for more than a decade. At 31, Aspinall could reign for years if and when he gets to the top.
What’s Next For the UFC?
The UFC heads to Macau, China, for a spectacular card headlined by former bantamweight champion Petr Yan facing former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
Here is a look at the complete card.
- Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
- Xiaonan Yan vs. Tabatha Ricci
- Ozzy Diaz vs. Mingyang Zhang
- Kenan Song vs. Muslim Salikhov
- Cong Wang vs. Gabriella Fernandes
- Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg
- Carlos Hernandez vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
- Xiaocan Feng vs. Ming Shi
- Kiru Sahota vs. Dong Hoon Choi
- Su Young You vs. Balgyn Jenisuly
- Kangjie Zhu vs. Bin Xie
- Lone’er Kavanagh vs. Jose Ochoa
- Long Xiao vs. Quang Le
- Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Nikolas Motta
