Everyone dreams of leaving their mark in history, but not all records are worth celebrating—some can even be a source of shame. We’re talking about UFC heavyweight interim champion Tom Aspinall‘s recent record, which he achieved thanks to Dana White & Co., and UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The Brit recently surpassed a milestone set by former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao 11 years ago, by holding the UFC interim title for the longest-reigning interim champion in UFC history, at 534 days.

However, this is not a record Tom Aspinall is proud of, and he’s well aware of that. In his latest YouTube video, while hanging out with the flyweight GOAT, Demetrious Johnson, the Englishman was asked, “You are now the longest reigning interim champion.” In response, Tom rejected any recognition of the achievement and voiced his true feelings. “Yeah, this is bulls–t. That is not something that I wanted. No, it’s not something that I’m proud of, to be honest. The interim title is nice, but the longest reigning one… I obviously wanted to contend for the undisputed title. 

Despite the absence of clear signs pointing to a heavyweight unification bout, Jon Jones is scheduled to face Nate Diaz on the upcoming ALF Reality, a Russian counterpart to The Ultimate Fighter. Nevertheless, Tom Aspinall has hinted that the unification fight could still be on the horizon, stating, “In the time that I’ve been interim, so it’s coming. It’s coming. It’s coming.”

However, the lack of a clear sign of when that will happen leaves many wondering. Jon Jones’ inactivity has become a headache for the UFC, with only two heavyweight fights in his two-year career. His most recent fight was in November 2024 at UFC 309, where he defended his title against Stipe Miocic at MSG. In comparison, Tom Aspinall hasn’t fought since summer 2024 when he defeated Curtis Blaydes at UFC Manchester. Since then, he’s been waiting for his bout with ‘Bones’, who has requested additional time to prepare for the younger challenger, which has caused frustration among fans and fellow UFC fighters alike.

So, is the fight really happening? Dana White has confirmed that the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall heavyweight bout is “100%” happening this year. Yet, the delays have caused growing frustration for the Brit, with his father, Andy Aspinall, questioning the situation. “You’re contracted to do three fights a year,” Andy said. “For me, if the guy doesn’t want to fight for the belt, vacate it.”

Dana White attempted to clear the air, saying the fight is “done, but it’s not done,” a vague update that leaves the status of this highly anticipated matchup hanging in the balance. With no official date confirmed, many are wondering — what is Tom Aspinall up to in the meantime? Let’s take a look.

What has Tom Aspinall been focusing on while his potential bout with Jon Jones remains uncertain?

Tom Aspinall isn’t one to let others dictate the direction of his life. He’s determined to live on his own terms, and while he waits for his shot at the UFC heavyweight title, he’s committed to his personal growth. With the fight against Jon Jones still uncertain, the Englishman is using this time to focus on his YouTube channel and spend time with fellow MMA fighters. More crucially, he’s honing his skills, knowing that when the time comes to face ‘Bones’, it could be the defining moment of his career.

Though Dana White has endorsed the matchup, things are far from concrete. That’s why Tom Aspinall isn’t currently in a formal training camp. Instead, he’s working on his development. On his YouTube channel, he explained, “I’m sparring to get better, not to prepare for a fight. Right now, I’m not in a training camp, so I’m just working on things I want to work on. It’s really interesting for me to practice new little things. If I’m in a training camp, I’m sparring for my opponent. Now, I can focus on what I need.”

As time passes, Tom Aspinall continues to make waves while holding the interim heavyweight title, setting new records with every fight. But with the Jon Jones showdown still up in the air, do you believe the fight could become a reality by the end of 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments below.