Tom Aspinall is prepared to vacate his heavyweight strap if the UFC offers his friend and training partner Ante Delija a world title shot.
Delija got off to a flying start to his UFC career last month when he blasted away Marcin Tybura in the opening stanza to earn a No.9 spot in the 265lbs rankings.
Aspinall believes the Croatian contender is ‘two or three fights’ away from competing for the belt.
And if this prophecy proves to be true, then Aspinall will gladly step to one side.
“My friend and training partner [Ante Delija] just got to the UFC, and just beat a guy in the Top 10, so he’s potentially 2-3 wins away from a title shot,” Aspinall told the ShxtsNGigs podcast.
“So the thing is, if I never won a title, I never touched gold before, we’d have to fight. Because that was my dream.
“But now that I’ve done it, I’d vacate, and he could have his time.
“I wouldn’t fight him. No chance.
He’s one of my genuine friends, and there’s some stuff to me that’s more important than money and titles.
“I’ve won the title, I’ve done that, and now I’ve got a few more in me before he’s going to be up there anyway.
“Still a lot more to do, but I can do that more in the time that it takes him to get [into the title conversation].”
Who is Ante Delija, and how long has he been training with Tom Aspinall?
Deija (26-6) has been Aspinall’s main sparring partner for the best part of two years.
Delija made light work of Tybura at UFC ParisGettyThe 35-year-old is currently in camp helping his pal prepare to defend his belt for the first time against Ciryl Gane on October 25, while also gearing up for his own next outing with Waldo Cortes-Acosta on November 1.
Before the UFC, Delija won the 2022 PFL heavyweight tournament, beating Brazilian giant Renan Ferreira en route to the $1million cash prize.
He also reached the tournament final in 2021 but was defeated by Bruno Cappelozza on points.
‘The Walking Trouble’ has won seven of his last eight fights, with his sole defeat in the last three years coming at the hands of former interim Bellator heavyweight champion Valentin Moldavsky.
In recent fights outside of MMA‘s premier promotion, Delija has overcome UFC veterans Yorgan De Castro and Maurice Greene.
Meanwhile, he also holds a notable victory over Alistair Overeem‘s brother, Valentijn, in 2014.
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