Tom Aspinall has made public his desire to fight at UFC 300 after winning the interim heavyweight championship against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. The Englishman took the fight on two weeks notice, and revealed, after the fight, that he wasn’t able to train for the week and a half that led up to the fight because of a back injury.
Despite the lack of preparation, facing one of the most dangerous heavyweights on the planet, Aspinall hit the Russian with two beautiful left hook-right hand combinations; the first wobbled his opponent, the second switched his lights off, and crowned England’s first heavyweight champion. The fight was stopped just 69 seconds into the first round.
He is the third British UFC champion, after Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping and current welterweight champion Leon Edwards. But the new interim heavyweight king is the first English-born UFC titleholder.
Tom Aspinall Plans to Fight At UFC 300
Following his emotional victory at the UFC’s 30th anniversary show, Aspinall told TNT Sports that he wants to make his first defence at UFC 300, in April.
“Now it’s just a bout legacy,” said the interim heavyweight champion. “I want to be the best heavyweight ever now. I want to fight on UFC 300. That’s my goal.”
The 30-year-old admitted to TNT Sports that he had never been so nervous before a fight. He said: “I’ve never been as scared in my life.
“I was sat in the changing room thinking: ‘I’m not sure this is the best idea!’ But it’s all paid off now.
I felt like I couldn’t get my range with him properly at first. I remember he hit me with a shot and my gum shield came out.
“I can’t even remember the rest, to be honest. I’d have to watch it back.”
Who Else Could Fight Alongside Tom Aspinall At UFC 300?
There are hints and rumours going around that Conor McGregor v Michael Chandler could headline the historic card. The pair have been destined to face each other because of the most recent Ultimate Fighter series in which they were both coaches.
Combat Sports journalist The Schmo (TheSchmo312 on X) said last night that he had heard from sources that this fight is being lined up for the April card.
UFC legend and analyst Daniel Cormier has also said that he believes that the bout should take place at UFC 300. On DC and RC, the former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion said: “UFC 100 had Brock with George [St-Pierre] and all those guys. UFC 200 had Brock, it was supposed to be me and [Jon] Jones also, wound up being me, Anderson Silva, Brock, all these big names.
“UFC 300 has to have a big name like that, we don’t have Brock Lesnar anymore. So, I think you have to have a Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler.”
Quotes taken from TNT Sports on X (formerly known as Twitter) and DC and RC on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel
Who do you want to see fight at UFC 300? Let us know in the comments below.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
