Tom Aspinall Has the Heavyweight Crown—Three Challengers Eye His First Defense
Tom Aspinall was officially recognized as the UFC heavyweight champion in the post-fight press conference at UFC Baku. The announcement, delivered directly by White, stripped away all uncertainty: the interim tag is gone. The Brit didn't waste time acknowledging the moment. In a quick Instagram post, Aspinall made it clear he's ready to go: 'For you fans. It's time to get this Heavyweight division going. An active Undisputed Champion'.
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With the belt now solely in his possession, the next question is obvious: Who's next? Three names are leading the conversation. First, Ciryl Gane, the current No. 2 ranked contender, has quietly rebuilt his stock since his 2023 loss to Jon Jones at UFC 285.
Tom AspinallGetty Images
Now riding a two-fight win streak—his latest a razor-close split decision over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310—Gane's slick striking and calm demeanor would make for a stylistic chess match with Aspinall.
Volkov, meanwhile, isn't going away. Ranked No. 3 and still dangerous, the Russian veteran could be in for a rematch of their 2022 bout, which ended in a round one armbar loss to Aspinall. This time around, Volkov's looked more disciplined, more patient, and far more strategic. It's not the sexiest matchup on paper—but it's a meaningful one.
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Then there's Jailton Almeida. The surging Brazilian grappler is coming off a first-round finish over Serghei Spivac at UFC 311 and has become one of the most dangerous ground specialists in the division. With his pressure-heavy ground game and ability to shut down striking-based opponents, a smothering threat that could erase the space Aspinall thrives in.
Don't count out Sergei Pavlovich either. Though currently booked for a clash with Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC Shanghai in August, Pavlovich remains one of the most feared punchers in the division. He's already shared the cage with Aspinall once—suffering a first-round KO loss at UFC 295—but his reputation for early violence keeps him on the radar. A couple of emphatic wins could vault him back into contention.
A true wild card? Curtis Blaydes. He owns the only loss on Aspinall's resume, a 2022 first-round TKO that ended with Aspinall blowing out his knee seconds into the fight. But at UFC 304, the tables turned—Aspinall stopped Blaydes with a vicious KO to even the score.
With the series tied 1–1, a rubber match makes sense. The only wrinkle: Blaydes just fought at UFC Baku and walked away with a hard-fought split decision win. Depending on how much damage he took, he may not be available anytime soon.
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With Jon Jones officially out and Aspinall now firmly in command, the UFC's heavyweight division finally has what it's been missing: an active, dangerous champion with fresh matchups ahead. It's a new era—and the clock on his first defense has already started ticking.
Related: UFC Signs Former PFL Heavyweight Champion in Strategic Roster Move
Related: Alex Pereira Has a Clear Answer on a Potential Heavyweight Move
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
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