MMA
'It's not going to be an easy night' - Tom Aspinall challenges UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira
Watch UFC 309 live Nov. 16 on ESPN+ PPV (US only)
UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is eager to pursue the biggest names in MMA.
After making a successful defence of his title against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, many are calling for Aspinall to face Jon Jones who holds the full title.
Apsinall will have to wait a little while longer for his opportunity however, with Jones set to defend the belt at UFC 309 against Stipe Miocic on November 16.
If a clash with the winner of Jones vs. Miocic fails to present itself, Aspinall has teased that he could be interested in facing UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Pereira is currently considered amongst the top pound-for-pound fighters in MMA right now, and he cemented this status with a fourth-round stoppage against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307.
Following this performance, there have been calls for the Brazilian to move up to heavyweight and if Pereira did decide to make the move, it would be a fight Aspinall would be interested in making.
"I think it’s a tough fight, to be honest. I don’t see it as an easy fight at all," Aspinall told CasinoHawks.
"I think it's a lot harder stylistically for me than a lot of the fights at heavyweight. But he’s going to have to carry my weight. If you’ve got 120 kilos smothering you, that’s not easy for him. If you’re the smaller guy, that’s not going to be an easy night.
"Me and Alex, it’s a big fight, but it depends on what he wants to do. I think I’ve made it pretty clear I want to fight anybody, but he doesn’t really have to risk moving up. If he doesn't want to, it’s completely up to him."
