![Islam Makhachev praises UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/08/e3391-17232378698741-1920.jpg)
![Islam Makhachev praises UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Islam Makhachev recently heaped praise on Tom Aspinall and expressed interest in seeing him fight Jon Jones in a UFC heavyweight title unification bout. The Dagestani noted that the Englishman has been on an impressive run and considers him one of the top fighters in the sport.
The interim UFC heavyweight champion has been vocal as to why he should be fighting Jones next as opposed to Stipe Miocic. The current situation at heavyweight resulted in Aspinall deciding to defend his interim title against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, where he earned a quick first-round knockout.
While speaking to Hosheh MMA, the reigning lightweight champion spoke highly of the Englishman for surging up the heavyweight rankings and dominant performances as of late. Makhachev mentioned that Aspinall has proven himself against other top contenders and deserves a title unification bout against Jones. He said:
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"I want Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones...This guy [Aspinall] has interim [heavyweight] title, he defended the title, he don't have the real [title]. He have to fight for [the] real one. Tom Aspinall really deserves [it]...[He's] very good, still young, very hungry and this guy is one of the [most] dangerous guys in the world."
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Check out Islam Makhachev's comments below:
Islam Makhachev discusses potential rematch against Arman Tsarukyan
In addition to sharing his thoughts on Tom Aspinall, Islam Makhachev discussed his potential rematch against Arman Tsarukyan.
During the aforementioned appearance, Makhachev mentioned that he hasn't noticed much improvement from the No.1 ranked lightweight, but complimented him on how he promotes himself. He said:
"I think [Tsarukyan is] the same. I saw a lot of his fights, he just speaks. He speaks good, he promotes himself but he's the same fighter and it's not [an] exciting match for me, but we will fight soon...He's the number one [ranked lightweight] right now in the world."
Check out Makhachev's comments regarding Tsarukyan below:
