HE’S GOT ASPINALL GUNS BLAZING
TOM ASPINALL is aiming to make his mark in the UFC heavyweight division, believing a swift win over former champion Andrei Arlovski will prove he is the “real deal”.
Aspinall has already made an impression by dispatching Jake Collier and Alan Baudot in a combined 140 seconds but he faces a big step-up in competition in his third fight with the organisation against Arlovski (right) in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
The Belarusian-American was champion from October 2005 to May 2006 and has more recently fought a number of stand-out names, including current titleholder Stipe Miocic and contenders Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
All three stopped Arlovski inside a round but the 42-year-old has demonstrated he is not a spent force by winning the last two bouts of an astonishing 51-fight MMA career, so Aspinall (left) knows he is in for a huge challenge in Las Vegas.
He said: “I think he will be my toughest test – on paper for sure. He has shown a bit of improvement in his last couple of fights. He’s changed his style completely, he’s quite negative and doesn’t go in swinging like he used to because I know he got knocked out a few times by doing that. He’s learned from that. He seems to be improving.
“If I can stop him and stop him quick, that will be a statement for the UFC and the rest of the guys that I’m the real deal.”
While power in the highest weight class is the ultimate currency – and Aspinall’s is obvious with eight knockouts or technical knockouts in his nine wins – the 6ft 5in Wigan fighter believes speed is his real weapon. The 27-year-old (9-2 in MMA) said: “For me as a heavyweight, what sets me apart from the others is I’m a lot quicker. No one’s really seen what I can do.”
Aspinall dipped his toes into professional boxing in June 2017 when he was struggling to find MMA opponents, winning his only bout against unheralded Hungarian Tamas Bajzath by first-round knockout.
He also sparred with Tyson Fury as the WBC heavyweight champion prepared for fights against Christian Hammer and Wladimir Klitschko six years ago.
Asked what he learned from Fury, Aspinall replied: “To relax and enjoy yourself. That’s what you must do in this sport – it’s not all serious, just enjoy it in there.”