Tom Aspinall is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation for his interim heavyweight title fight against Curtis Blaydes this Saturday at UFC 304. The bout, which marks their rematch, comes after their first encounter ended abruptly just 15 seconds in due to a freak knee injury that handed Aspinall his only loss in the Octagon.
This fight, set to take place in Manchester, is not only significant for its stakes but also because it will be Aspinall’s first bout of 2024. It will also be his first time fighting with the new gloves that debuted at UFC 302 in June.
Tom Aspinall Expects Fighters to Dip Their Hands in Petrol if He Lands KO Blow at UFC 304
Aspinall has been meticulous about adapting to the changes brought by these new gloves. Noticing that the updated design offers less padding around the knuckles and feels lighter overall, he decided to take a unique approach to harden his hands.
“I’ve seen the new gloves, and they’re a lot smaller than the old ones. There’s significantly less padding,” Aspinall shared during the UFC 304 media day. “To make sure my knuckles are up to the challenge, I’ve been using an old-school method—dipping them in petrol. It hardens them up like rocks. If I score a knockout on Saturday, you can bet other fighters might start using this trick too” (h/t MMA Junkie).
Aspinall’s opponent, Curtis Blaydes, has had a distinguished career with 18 fights in the UFC and notable victories over heavyweights like Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem, and Junior dos Santos. His impressive track record has established him as one of the toughest competitors in the heavyweight division.
“Aspinall acknowledges the challenge Blaydes presents,” Aspinall said. “He’s been a top contender for a long time, and he’s achieved almost everything except for the title. I have a lot of respect for him, both as a fighter and as a person. I’m taking this fight very seriously and am not overlooking him at all.”
With his unconventional training methods and deep respect for his opponent, Aspinall is clearly focused and ready for what promises to be a thrilling rematch.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
