Tom Aspinall is the way forward for the Heavyweight division.
The present Final Combating Championship (UFC) interim titleholder has risen by the ranks in a just about flawless method. Aspinall, 31, has misplaced solely as soon as in his eight-fight UFC profession (14-3 total), and that got here by way of a 15-second knee harm towards Curtis Blaydes (watch highlights) in July 2022.
A match up with Blaydes was a fantastic check for the British contender, due to Blaydes’ robust wrestling background. Sadly, none of it was put to the check, however which will change if the pair meet in a attainable title rematch for his or her subsequent trip. Ideally, Aspinall would unify the interim and undisputed crowns towards the latter’s proprietor, Jon Jones. UFC as a substitute is sticking to the unique plan of Stipe Miocic difficult Jones when all events are prepared.
Each legendary present and former champions would current fascinating challenges for Aspinall. Had timing aligned in another way, it’s wild to assume that one other legend, Cain Velasquez, may nonetheless be within the fold as he and Miocic are each 41. Velasquez’s longtime coach at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), Javier Mendez, believes that’s the kind of check that will have been roughest for Aspinall.
“It will have been powerful for Tom Aspinall due to Cain’s wrestling, his wrestling would have been superior to Tom’s,” Mendez informed King On line casino Bonus. “It will have come all the way down to wrestling and I don’t assume Tom would be capable of wrestle to that diploma, he could be in bother. Cain may stand with anybody within the stand-up, however Cain had a number of accidents, and different issues occurred to him, he was mismanaged at instances, if weren’t for these issues he would have been the best Heavyweight of all time.”
Aspinall final fought when he defeated Sergei Pavlovich to develop into the interim champion with a 69-second knockout at UFC 295 in November 2023 (watch highlights).