Tom Aspinall made history at UFC 295 by becoming the first British fighter to capture a UFC heavyweight title. But his journey to this moment was far from ordinary. As he sat in his locker room, moments before stepping into the Octagon to face Sergei Pavlovich, the 30-year-old Briton couldn’t help but question his decision.
“What am I doing?” he thought to himself. And it’s no wonder he had doubts. Aspinall had taken an enormous risk by accepting the fight on just 17 days’ notice after champion Jon Jones suffered an injury, forcing him to withdraw from the event at Madison Square Garden. But there was a hidden twist that added to the drama – Aspinall had been nursing an injured back and had not been able to fully train during those crucial days leading up to the fight.
Facing the formidable Russian knockout artist Pavlovich under these circumstances was a gamble few would have been willing to take. However, it was a gamble that paid off spectacularly, as Aspinall delivered a stunning knockout victory in just 69 seconds. Still savoring his triumph with a post-fight pizza, Aspinall revealed the extent of his injury in his news conference.
“I think this will take a while to sink in, to be honest; it’s been an absolutely crazy two and a half weeks,” said Aspinall. “I got the call to fight three or four days after I pulled my back really bad. I could barely move or do anything. It’s still not great – I’m going to have to get it treated properly when I go home.”
Aspinall’s willingness to face fear head-on was evident in his decision to step into the Octagon despite his injury. He openly admitted to being scared but chose to confront his fears, and the result was a performance for the ages.
In victory, Aspinall joins an exclusive club of British UFC titleholders, with only Michael Bisping (middleweight) and Leon Edwards (welterweight) having achieved such a feat in the past. Aspinall’s rise to the top has been nothing short of remarkable since his UFC debut in 2020.
His unique blend of speed, footwork, punching power, and black-belt-level jiu-jitsu has led to seven finishes in eight UFC fights, with his only loss coming against Curtis Blaydes last year due to a serious knee injury. At just one minute and 32 seconds, Aspinall boasts the shortest average fight time in UFC history (minimum of five fights).
His mastery in the Octagon is a testament to a lifetime of training, with his father Andy serving as his mentor since the age of eight in Manchester. Aspinall humorously reminisced about his unorthodox training regimen, including dodging tennis balls launched at his head by his father.
“For years my dad’s had this garage where we train some unorthodox stuff, and he just launches tennis balls at my head, and I have to move out of the way,” said Aspinall, gesturing towards his father, who was off-camera. “But it’s paid off tonight, hasn’t it, Dad?”
He continued, “We’ve been through hundreds, thousands of hours of conversation. It’s not just in the gym; it’s the drive to the gym, it’s the drive back, in the gym, at home, going to competitions as a kid every weekend.”
Aspinall’s father, speaking to Sport News Center, expressed his unwavering belief in his son’s potential. “Tom listened to instructions about grappling that I knew. He was always good, and took instructions well, and always got better,” he said. “And he was always really dedicated, and his thing is, he always wants to get better at doing stuff.”
Aspinall’s journey to the title was marked by a crucial turning point when he injured his knee during the defeat to Blaydes last year. This setback led him to make significant lifestyle changes, including bringing in fellow heavyweights to enhance his training.
Aspinall expressed gratitude to the countless individuals who contributed to his success. “There have been a million people involved with this career, not just my dad. I’ve trained at gyms all over the world, I’ve boxed with the Furys for years, I go over to Holland to train,” he noted. “And I just hope everyone who’s been a part of that can be like ‘I’m proud of him.’ For someone to look at me and be like ‘I’m part of that journey,’ that means the world to me.”
Looking ahead, Aspinall’s path to an undisputed title fight may require patience, as heavyweight champion Jon Jones is in recovery and unlikely to compete for at least eight months. UFC president Dana White has expressed plans to match Jones against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic, which was the original idea for the New York card.
This means that Aspinall may need to wait for his shot at the undisputed title, potentially for up to a year, or defend his interim title in the meantime, a rare option in the UFC. Aspinall, however, has a special location in mind for a showdown with Jones.
“Right now, I just want to chill for a bit and see what happens, but ultimately, I just want to fight Jon Jones,” said Aspinall. “I think we should do it in Manchester; that is something special, and I’m sure the UFC would be on board with that.”
Aspinall’s remarkable performance at UFC 295 has also caught the attention of Jones, who took to social media to congratulate him. “Tom, congratulations on the interim heavyweight championship belt! That was an awesome performance!” wrote Jones, acknowledging the historic achievement of the British fighter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UFC 295 Tom Aspinall
Q: Who is Tom Aspinall, and what is his achievement at UFC 295?
A: Tom Aspinall is a British fighter who made history at UFC 295 by becoming the first British UFC heavyweight champion. He achieved this feat by defeating Sergei Pavlovich in a spectacular fashion.
Q: What was the significant risk Tom Aspinall took leading up to UFC 295?
A: Aspinall accepted the fight against Sergei Pavlovich on just 17 days’ notice after the champion Jon Jones was injured. What made it even riskier was that Aspinall had an injured back and couldn’t fully train during those days.
Q: How did Tom Aspinall secure the victory at UFC 295?
A: Tom Aspinall secured a knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich in just 69 seconds, showcasing his exceptional skills and composure in the Octagon.
Q: What is unique about Tom Aspinall’s fighting style and record?
A: Aspinall’s fighting style is characterized by extraordinary speed, footwork for a heavyweight, punching power, and black-belt-level jiu-jitsu. He has an impressive record of seven finishes in eight UFC fights, with his only loss coming due to a serious knee injury.
Q: Who played a crucial role in Tom Aspinall’s martial arts journey?
A: Tom Aspinall’s father, Andy, played a pivotal role in his martial arts journey, serving as his mentor since he was eight years old. They trained together, with some unorthodox methods, and their dedication paid off with Aspinall’s championship victory.
Q: What are Tom Aspinall’s plans for the future in the UFC?
A: Aspinall expressed his desire to fight Jon Jones for the undisputed heavyweight title, suggesting that the fight could take place in Manchester, a special location for him. However, he may have to wait, as Jones is recovering from injury, and the UFC is considering other matchups in the meantime.
More about UFC 295 Tom Aspinall
- Tom Aspinall’s UFC Profile
- UFC 295 Event Information
- Sergei Pavlovich’s UFC Profile
- Jon Jones’ UFC Profile
- Michael Bisping’s UFC Profile
- Leon Edwards’ UFC Profile
- Curtis Blaydes’ UFC Profile
- Stipe Miocic’s UFC Profile
- Dana White’s UFC Profile
