Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall returns to the cage on July 27 at Co-op Dwell in Manchester, England towards 4th ranked Curtis Blaydes. The heavyweight match will function the UFC 304 co-main occasion.
Aspinall shall be defending the interim title earlier than heavyweight champion Jon Jones defends his belt. Jones has been sidelined since tearing a pectoral tendon whereas coaching to face former two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic final November. Probably additional setting again Jones’ return is a latest finger damage. He tweeted, “Getting half my finger cutoff on the Los Angeles Airport,” on Saturday. The submit has since been deleted.
Regardless of a stall on the high of the division, Aspinall believes it is a good time to be a fan of heavyweights.
“The heavyweight division is on a revival proper now,” Aspinall informed The MMA Hour. “We have Jon Jones. Who is aware of what he will do however he will be lively once more quickly, hopefully. We have Alex Pereira doubtlessly shifting up. We have [Alexander] Volkov who’s on a resurgence. We have Ciryl Gane knocking round. We have Curtis Blaydes. We have [Sergei] Pavlovich nonetheless within the combine.
“We have every kind of men and there is most likely a number of that I’ve not even talked about. We have [Jailton] Almeida. There’s so many high stage heavyweights and these subsequent 5 to 10 years are going to be completely unbelievable at heavyweight. What a time to be concerned in heavyweight MMA.”
The heavyweight division is deeper than it has been in a very long time. Jones and Aspinall sit on the high of the burden class with the championship and interim title, however just one might be the most effective heavyweight on this planet. Aspinall believes it is ‘by far’ him.
“I really imagine ability for ability I am the most effective heavyweight on this planet by far. By far. No one comes near me,” Aspinall mentioned. “Does that imply I’ll win each combat? No. It does not in any respect. That is heavyweight MMA. It is actually a flip of the coin. Anyone can win at any time.”
“However I am all in. I am completely all in, 100% on being the most effective heavyweight that I can probably be,” Aspinall continued.
