Tom Aspinall addresses Alex Pereira’s potential transfer to heavyweight
Now that Tom Aspinall is the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, he wants an opponent to defend in opposition to.
Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) sparked rumors of his curiosity in combating Alex Pereira when he was captured staring down the previous gentle heavyweight champion whereas he was within the prep level for his UFC 300 bout in opposition to Jamahal Hill. Aspinall assured that he was simply displaying curiosity in human physique language, and never essentially sizing up Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) earlier than a possible battle.
“I’ve seen the images after I’m like gazing him,” Aspinall advised ESPN MMA. “If you happen to watch me at any occasion, I am going to stand and stare on the flyweights like that. Not as a result of I am making an attempt to intimidate them, as a result of I actually get pleasure from finding out folks’s psychology earlier than the battle. I similar to watching the physique language, what they’re doing, how they’re behaving and stuff. Possibly I am going to be taught one thing, who is aware of? I would be taught one thing from another person. I am continuously finding out the way in which persons are appearing, as a result of it pursuits me.”
Whereas Aspinall’s staredown might not have been fight-related, Pereira has entertained the concept of a transfer as much as the heavyweight division. Ought to that transfer occur in pursuit of a UFC title in a 3rd weight class, “Poatan” might cross paths with the heavyweight champ.
Aspinall is not in opposition to the concept, however he does not see it occurring simply but, as a result of Pereira has unfinished enterprise with the person who took his title, Magomed Ankalaev.
“I do not know, he is bought enterprise to do at gentle heavy,” Aspinall stated. “He is simply misplaced his title in a troublesome battle. I believe that Ankalaev stays to be a troublesome matchup for him. Let’s examine if he will get by the following one.
“For my part, Magomed Ankalaev does not get sufficient respect. Like, the man has run by all people. He simply beat a long-standing champion and he needs to be given respect in his personal proper for being a champion. It is a powerful battle for Alex, undoubtedly a battle Alex can win. We have seen him, how highly effective he’s and stuff. I believe so far as his transfer as much as heavyweight, I believe – I am solely talking as if I used to be in his place, I would wish to get that one again first.”
The curiosity in seeing “Poatan” transfer as much as heavyweight is partially as a result of lack of huge names presently residing within the heavyweight division. Aspinall agrees the state of the division has been stronger in prior years, however believes it should bounce again in due time.
“It has been higher, however it will probably get higher for positive,” Aspinall stated. “I believe that after we’re speaking concerning the Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos days, Brock Lesnar concerned and all that form of folks – Fabricio Werdum and and many others., and many others. That is when it was at its peak. Now it is not bought as many huge names concerned, however that is there to be modified. There’s loads of good guys there. I believe that within the subsequent few years we will see some actually good fights with the heavyweights.”