Tom Aspinall has the potential to become one of the biggest stars in Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC) and promotion CEO, Dana White, is excited to see it happen.
Fight fans will see Aspinall put his interim UFC heavyweight title on the line for the first time against Curtis Blaydes in a co-main event clash later tonight (Sat., July 27, 2024) at UFC 304 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Co-op Live in Manchester, England. It is a rematch from their first meeting back in July 2022, which saw Aspinall blow his knee out 15 seconds into the fight.
Aspinall, who has finished all seven of his other UFC appearances, is coming off a sensational knockout finish over Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 back in Nov. 2023 to earn the interim strap. That performance solidified Aspinall as one of the very best heavyweight fighters in the sport today and a potentially massive star in the making, especially when it comes to the U.K. market.
UFC has had some big English stars in the past — most notably former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping — but never a heavyweight champion. It would be huge for the division, promotion, and region if Aspinall continues his torrid pace atop the most dangerous weight class in all of combat sports. It’s an ongoing ascension that White is happy to witness.
Dana White: And now we’re gonna find out what Aspinall can do over the next several years. If you can have a reigning, defending heavyweight champion of the UFC, born and bred in the UK, it’s gonna be massive. pic.twitter.com/UZkkUC6GWh
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) July 26, 2024
“And now we’re gonna find out what Aspinall can do over the next several years,” said White ahead of UFC 304. “If you can have a reigning, defending heavyweight champion of the UFC, born and bred in the U.K., it’s gonna be massive. For not only the sport and this region, but for the UFC itself.”
Aspinall, who just turned 31 this past April, is not even in his fighting prime. The English heavyweight continues to evolve each and every time fight fans see him compete. If he’s able to make quick work out of Blaydes this weekend in Manchester then it would lead to a matchup against the winner of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, which would boost his UFC stock even more.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 304 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
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