The interim Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight title is about to be up for grabs once again.
UFC 304 will see the promotion return to Manchester, England later this month (Sat., July 27, 2024). In the co-main event, current titleholder, Tom Aspinall, looks to exact his revenge against Curtis Blaydes for his 15-second loss in July 2022 (watch highlights).
Without context, that loss sounds as embarrassing as any. However, Aspinall’s lone UFC setback was the result of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Despite Jon Jones’ belief in Aspinall getting pieced up during the “fight,” the Brit expects a nasty outcome in his favor this time around.
“It’s Heavyweight MMA and anything can happen, I feel like I always have to say that just to cover all aspects,” Aspinall told Prime Casino. “However, I feel like this ends with an absolutely horrendous knockout and me being the winner. That’s how I definitely see it going.”
Aspinall, 31, has been fighting an uphill battle to prove he’s worthy of a shot against the undisputed champion, Jones. Should he defend his interim title, whether Jones is still around or not, he’ll wait for his unification bout or status promotion.
Until then, Blaydes is the only concern Aspinall has in mind.
“This is a big fight for me, mentally as well as physically,” Aspinall said. “This is the only loss I have got in the UFC, and I lost it in a very unpleasant way because of the injury and then being unable to even train for the next year, or walk for the next few months.
“I don’t want that to be the final chapter for me and Curtis Blaydes, I want to put this to bed once and for all and that’s what I am looking to do,” he concluded. “So I am very motivated for this one.”