Tag: tom aspinall

Chael Sonnen: Tom Aspinall Knocking Out Big Heavyweights That Mike Tyson Had A ‘Hard Time’ With

Chael Sonnen recently lauded Tom Aspinall’s formidable punching power, boldly asserting that the Brit possesses the knockout ability to take down heavyweight boxers against whom even the legendary Mike Tyson struggled. Aspinall triumphantly retained his interim heavyweight title with a stunning 60-second knockout of his former foe, Curtis Blaydes, avenging his only loss in the […]

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Chael Sonnen recently lauded Tom Aspinall’s formidable punching power, boldly asserting that the Brit possesses the knockout ability to take down heavyweight boxers against whom even the legendary Mike Tyson struggled.

Aspinall triumphantly retained his interim heavyweight title with a stunning 60-second knockout of his former foe, Curtis Blaydes, avenging his only loss in the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC 304 this past Saturday in Manchester.

The 31-year-old Salford native delivered a powerful right hand that sent “Razor” crashing to the floor, then topped it off with a relentless barrage of punches to the head, prompting referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight.

Since returning from injury in July 2023, Aspinall has been unstoppable, securing three first-round knockout victories. He has now won seven of his UFC fights by first-round stoppage, boasting an average fight time of just 2:02—the shortest in the promotion’s history.

Sonnen Stunned by Aspinall’s Devastating Punching Power

During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen weighed in on Aspinall’s victory over Blaydes at UFC 304. “The Bad Guy” noted that while it may not have been the Englishman’s finest performance in the Octagon, his incredible knockout power still managed to shift the momentum decisively in his favor.

“I’m watching Tom, surprised by himself that it wasn’t a perfect fight by Tom,” Sonnen said. “Curtis was actually fundamentally doing some things a little bit better than Tom. And one thing about Tom is these boys he’s putting down, these are the big heavyweights, and I’m talking about size. I’m talking about actually getting on the scale and what they tip the scale at.”

Sonnen went on to say that Aspinall’s punching power is so formidable that he could knock out big heavyweights – something even “Iron Mike” Tyson had trouble with.

“Mike Tyson had a hard time putting down the heavyweights that were 240, 250, 260 [pounds]. These are the guys that Tom is touching one time; this is shocking power. Tom is getting guys out of here so quickly. I don’t love the reality that in three years, Tom has been in the ring for about three minutes, but the other side of it is, what are you going to do? How are you going to stop him?”

After his win, Aspinall renewed his call for a unification bout with Jon Jones, who claimed the vacant UFC heavyweight title by defeating Ciryl Gane in March 2023 at UFC 285.

“Bones” is expected to defend his title for the first time later this year against Stipe Miocic, a matchup that UFC CEO Dana White is adamant about making a reality.

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen: Tom Aspinall Knocking Out Big Heavyweights That Mike Tyson Had A ‘Hard Time’ With at MMA News.

MMA Community’s Final Thoughts & Predictions On UFC 304: ‘Edwards Won’t Let Us Live In A World Where ‘No Name’ Muhammad Is Champion’

UFC 304 is almost upon us, and many in the mixed martial arts community have been posting some late takes on the event. The promotion hosts its latest pay-per-view card from the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, tonight, where a fiery fight week across the pond will culminate in championship stakes inside the Octagon. […]

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UFC 304 is almost upon us, and many in the mixed martial arts community have been posting some late takes on the event.

The promotion hosts its latest pay-per-view card from the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, tonight, where a fiery fight week across the pond will culminate in championship stakes inside the Octagon.

Headlining UFC 304, welterweight kingpin Leon Edwards will attempt to get the better of challenger Belal Muhammad at the second time of trying. After having his early success rendered null when an eye poke left “Remember the Name” unable to continue back in 2021, “Rocky” will look to pick up where he left off and make Muhammad the third victim of his title reign.

The co-main event, meanwhile, will see another home champ in action as Tom Aspinall puts his interim heavyweight gold on the line. Like Edwards in the headliner, Aspinall will be facing a familiar foe in the form of Curtis Blaydes. The Manchester native has redemption on his mind after a knee injury sent him to defeat opposite “Razor” after just 15 seconds two years ago.

Also on the lineup, Paddy Pimblett makes his return to the cage on home soil to compete for a spot in the lightweight rankings against King Green, Arnold Allen looks to bounce back from his first career losing skid opposite Giga Chikadze, and flyweight standouts Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape vie for a potential shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s belt.

To prepare yourself for tonight’s event, catch up on the latest betting odds here, look back on the faceoffs from Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins here, and follow along with the results and highlights here, live from 6 PM ET.

MMA Community Gives Final Thoughts On UFC 304: ‘There Is Something About English Fight Cards…’

UFC 304 will get underway shortly, meaning the buildup and time for talking is almost over.

The MMA community is sure to be locked in and engaged in hot discussion over the events that unfold in the coming hours, but throughout today, plenty have been getting in their late predictions and final thoughts on the momentous occasion. 

Continue Reading MMA Community’s Final Thoughts & Predictions On UFC 304: ‘Edwards Won’t Let Us Live In A World Where ‘No Name’ Muhammad Is Champion’ at MMA News.

Tom Aspinall Speculates About Jon Jones’ Next Opponent After Stipe Miocic: ‘That’s Way More Likely That Jones Fighting Me’

Tom Aspinall has made it perfectly clear that whilst fighting Jon Jones is still something he would love to do in his career, he doesn’t think it will happen. The UFC heavyweight champion has been teasing that he will make his return from injury later this year, where he will defend his title against Stipe […]

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Tom Aspinall has made it perfectly clear that whilst fighting Jon Jones is still something he would love to do in his career, he doesn’t think it will happen.

The UFC heavyweight champion has been teasing that he will make his return from injury later this year, where he will defend his title against Stipe Miocic.

When the fight was removed from UFC 295 last year due to Jones’ injury, Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped into the co-main event on short notice where the Brit became the interim champion.

He’s now set to defend that title this weekend at UFC 304 in a rematch with Curtis Blaydes, in a fight that many are considering to be for the real undisputed world championship.

Aspinall believes that even if both he and Jones are victorious in their next fights, there’s more chance of “Bones” taking another route instead.

Tom Aspinall Says Alex Pereira Has A Better Chance Of Fighting Jon Jones Than He Does

Jones has made it perfectly clear during his absence that fighting Aspinall isn’t something that he sees as adding anything to his legacy, which is already assured in the sport.

“Bones” has however, floated the idea of a potential fight against the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, which would be a massive contest.

During UFC 304 fight week, Aspinall spoke in an interview with Michael Bisping where he said that in his opinion, there’s more chance of that fight happening than him unifying the titles against Jones.

“Yeah, he might do. That’s way more likely than Jon Jones fighting me. Way more likely.”

Aspinall added that he doesn’t believe it’s an issue of Jones not wanting to fight him specifically, as he can understand why that fight isn’t the best option for the champion right now.

“Well, he’s going to get more money fighting Alex Pereira than he is me first of all and it’s an easier match-up. I’m not saying he doesn’t want to fight me, I’m saying that there’s more favorable match-ups. If the shoe was on the other foot, I would do the same.”

Read also: Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Names Who Has The Best Chance To Beat Jon Jones Out Of Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, & Alex Pereira

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Chael Sonnen Insists Tom Aspinall Has To Finish Curtis Blaydes To Beat Him At UFC 304

According to former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, Tom Aspinall can’t beat Curtis Blaydes on the scorecards this weekend. The pair will collide in Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view co-main event for the interim UFC heavyweight championship, which has been held by Aspinall ever since his first-round knockout of Sergei Pavlovich last November. That win came […]

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Insists Tom Aspinall Has To Finish Curtis Blaydes To Beat Him At UFC 304 at MMA News.

According to former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, Tom Aspinall can’t beat Curtis Blaydes on the scorecards this weekend.

The pair will collide in Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view co-main event for the interim UFC heavyweight championship, which has been held by Aspinall ever since his first-round knockout of Sergei Pavlovich last November.

That win came in just the second fight back for Aspinall after returning from the serious knee injury he sustained against Blaydes in 2022, which saw that UFC Fight Night headliner end in just 15 seconds.

After dispatching Marcin Tybura in 73 seconds last July, Aspinall required just 69 to send Pavlovich to the canvas inside Madison Square Garden, maintaining his 100 percent finish rate in the process.

With Aspinall having yet to go the distance in his professional career, “Razor” will no doubt look to drag him to deep waters in their five-round affair tomorrow night. And if he does, one ex-fighter has little doubt about who will have their hand raised…

Sonnen: Finish Is Essential For Aspinall At UFC 304

During a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his assessment on the first of two title fights set to play out in Manchester this weekend.

Sonnen pointed to the little cage time Aspinall has had since being struck by a severe injury against Blaydes two years ago.

And with questions remaining about how the Brit will fare in the later rounds, “The American Gangster” stated Aspinall must close the show early if he’s to maintain his grip on the title on home soil.

“Tom Aspinall’s on one heck of a roll. People wanna talk about this fight with Curtis Blaydes (being) over two years ago. Well, that’s true…but it was only two fights ago,” Sonnen said. “That’s not much experience. You’re talking about being on the shelf for close to three years with the exception of a total of three minutes.

“The odds of Tom winning are good. In fact, they’re -360. The chances that Tom can win a decision are very small,” Sonnen continued. “He’s gotta finish him. Oh, and by the way, not only does he gotta finish him, I think he’s gotta finish him in the first three rounds. … I think that Curtis is in a better spot than Tom based on those (15) seconds they shared the Octagon.”

Given his penchant for finishes and the aggressive start he made to their 2022 bout, it stands to reason that Aspinall will absolutely be looking for another early night this weekend.

Should he reach uncharted territory in the form of a fourth round, however, Sonnen is seemingly expecting the interim gold to change hands at UFC 304.

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Insists Tom Aspinall Has To Finish Curtis Blaydes To Beat Him At UFC 304 at MMA News.

Former UFC Champion Showers Tom Aspinall With Praise Ahead Of UFC 304: ‘When I Pair Him With Other Heavyweights, I Don’t Know How He Loses’

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker recently lavished accolades on Tom Aspinall, applauding his impressive exploits in the Octagon. Aspinall is slated to defend his interim heavyweight title against divisional veteran Curtis Blaydes in a highly anticipated rematch, featured as the co-main event of UFC 304. The upcoming pay-per-view event is scheduled for July 27 […]

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Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker recently lavished accolades on Tom Aspinall, applauding his impressive exploits in the Octagon.

Aspinall is slated to defend his interim heavyweight title against divisional veteran Curtis Blaydes in a highly anticipated rematch, featured as the co-main event of UFC 304. The upcoming pay-per-view event is scheduled for July 27 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

Their initial bout at UFC Fight Night London in July 2022 ended disastrously after just 15 seconds when the 31-year-old Brit suffered a severe knee injury that sidelined him for an entire year.

During his time away from the Octagon, Aspinall overhauled his training regimen, a move that paid off immensely. As a result, he is now hailed as one of the premier heavyweights on the current UFC roster.

Aspinall has cemented his reputation as a versatile powerhouse in the division, with his refined striking skills consistently catching his opponents off guard. “The Reaper” is profoundly impressed by the sophistication of Aspinall’s striking game and agile footwork…

Whittaker Claims Aspinall’s Speed Unmatched In Heavyweight Division

During a recent appearance on the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker shared his thoughts on the upcoming rematch between Aspinall and Blaydes. While the Aussie acknowledged his admiration for “Razor’s” wrestling skills, he pointed out that Blaydes often falls prey to heavy punchers.

“I’m a big fan of Curtis Blaydes,” Whittaker said. “Big fan of his fights, and he’s one of those fighters that when I pair him against other heavyweights, I don’t know how he loses. Being such a big guy and having that level of wrestling and cardio and output, I find it amazing. He gets caught—that’s the only way he loses; he gets caught by these big dudes. But more often than not, I don’t know if it’s just fight solid that’s led to a level of predictability, and you can see those bigger guys capitalizing on that.”

“The Reaper” further heaped praises on Aspinall’s exceptional abilities. He remarked that the Englishman’s remarkable level of athleticism, despite his towering stature, is what truly sets him apart from the rest of the heavyweight division.

“I’m a fan of how Tom Aspinall moves. I think the fact that he’s so light but can hit so hard in such a generally slow division is going to give Curtis Blaydes a lot of trouble. It is so hard to take someone down when they’re light on their feet. It is so hard to take someone down, when you know they can knock you out. It’s going to be a nightmare of a fight for Curtis Blaydes to try and close that gap, and I just don’t see Curtis beating Tom in a standup fight.”

While Aspinall is primarily celebrated for his striking prowess, the interim champion also holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is highly skilled in grappling. This versatility was showcased when he submitted both Alexander Volkov and Andrei Arlovski in the Octagon.

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Muhammad Mokaev Predicts ‘Easy’ Win For Tom Aspinall Against Curtis Blaydes: ‘There’s Jon Jones & There’s Tom Aspinall, That’s It!’

Muhammad Mokaev recently said that Curtis Blaydes will be no match for Tom Aspinall in their upcoming rematch, predicting an easy victory for his compatriot due to his versatile skill set. Both Mokaev and Aspinall are set to share the spotlight this Saturday at UFC 304 in their hometown of Manchester, England. The pay-per-view event […]

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Muhammad Mokaev recently said that Curtis Blaydes will be no match for Tom Aspinall in their upcoming rematch, predicting an easy victory for his compatriot due to his versatile skill set.

Both Mokaev and Aspinall are set to share the spotlight this Saturday at UFC 304 in their hometown of Manchester, England. The pay-per-view event marks the MMA promotion’s return to the “Rainy City” for the first time since UFC 204 in October 2016.

As “The Punisher” is poised to face off against Manel Kape in a flyweight grudge match, Aspinall will make the first defense of his interim heavyweight title against Blaydes in the co-main event.

Hailing from the same locale, Mokaev and Aspinall have a deep-rooted connection and share a storied history. Naturally, the undefeated 125-pounder is backing his fellow townsman and believes Aspinall’s prowess will overwhelm Blaydes…

Mokaev Confident Aspinall’s All-Around Game Will Outclass Blaydes

During a recent interview with Title Sports Network, Mokaev shared his insights on the Aspinall vs. Blaydes showdown. “The Punisher” boldly predicted that the interim champion’s diverse skill set would give him a decisive edge, emphasizing that Aspinall’s grappling abilities make him equally dangerous on the ground.

“I think Tom Aspinall is like… there’s Jon Jones, and there’s Tom Aspinall, that’s it,” Mokaev said. “I think I want to see Jon Jones against Tom Aspinall because he’s so high level. I think he’ll go past Curtis Blaydes easily. You know, Tom Aspinall showed all his striking, but he’s actually a grappler; imagine if the fight goes to the ground. He’s an all-rounded fighter. I think he will win.”

Aspinall faced his first loss in the Octagon against Blaydes two years ago during the main event of UFC Fight Night London in July 2022. The Brit suffered an unfortunate knee injury just 15 seconds into the bout, bringing the fight to an abrupt halt before any real action could unfold.

Apart from that blemish, the 31-year-old Salford native boasts an impressive UFC record, with seven victories to his name. Notably, six of these wins came via first-round finishes against formidable opponents such as Sergei Pavlovich, Marcin Tybura, and Alexander Volkov.

Continue Reading Muhammad Mokaev Predicts ‘Easy’ Win For Tom Aspinall Against Curtis Blaydes: ‘There’s Jon Jones & There’s Tom Aspinall, That’s It!’ at MMA News.