Aspinall Reports Exclusion from UFC News Conference

Tom Aspinall, who serves as the backup fighter for the UFC 309 main event featuring Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, stated that he was denied entry to the UFC 309 news conference held in New York on Thursday. Despite the event’s focus on promoting the heavyweight title bout between champion Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, spectators vocally cheered for Aspinall. Aspinall currently holds the interim title, but Jones has declined to fight him, expressing growing annoyance with media inquiries concerning the 31-year-old fighter. Earlier in the week, the 37-year-old American fighter used an expletive when referring to Aspinall, subsequently instructing fans to “knock it off” when they chanted “Tommy, Tommy” during the news conference. Aspinall informed the UFC’s weigh-in show, “I asked to be at the press conference and I was told no. I was trying to go but I got blacklisted.” UFC president Dana White stated that the victor of Saturday’s main event at Madison Square Garden ought to compete against Aspinall, though Jones asserts that a fight with him “does nothing for my legacy.” Aspinall secured the interim title one year ago by defeating Russia’s Sergei Pavlovich on 17 days’ notice, after an injury had compelled Jones to withdraw from his initial scheduled fight with Miocic. Instead of arranging a unification title match, Jones was rescheduled to fight the 42-year-old Miocic. Aspinall, who is the backup fighter for the main event, has publicly teased Jones in an effort to entice him into an undisputed fight, for instance, by purchasing a toy rubber duck for his dog after fans suggested Jones was “ducking” him. Although Jones appeared on stage smiling and engaged in banter with the lively audience at the news conference, the persistent discussion surrounding Aspinall has annoyed the two-weight UFC champion. He departed an interview with TNT Sports before it commenced, reportedly due to concerns about facing additional questions regarding Aspinall from the British broadcaster. Aspinall subsequently informed TNT Sports on Friday that he has formally requested to compete against the winner of the Jones and Miocic bout in the octagon, but has not yet received a response from the UFC.