Tag: UFC 304

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 […]

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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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Manel Kape Claims Muhammad Mokaev Stopped Training At ATT After Being Constantly Submitted By Alexandre Pantoja

UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape has heard some things regarding past training sessions between his upcoming opponent Muhammad Mokaev and champion Alexandre Pantoja. Having had a weight miss and an injury keep him out for the entirety of 2024 thus far, Kape is set to finally make his return to action at this weekend’s UFC […]

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UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape has heard some things regarding past training sessions between his upcoming opponent Muhammad Mokaev and champion Alexandre Pantoja.

Having had a weight miss and an injury keep him out for the entirety of 2024 thus far, Kape is set to finally make his return to action at this weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

To stake his claim for a first title shot on MMA’s biggest stage and rematch with Pantoja, “Starboy” is tasked with blemishing the perfect UFC and professional record of Britain’s Mokaev.

Given what he’s seen from “The Punisher’s” recent fights, Kape has appeared extremely confident about his chances of doing so.

While yet to taste defeat in the cage, Mokaev’s latest victories have seemingly left plenty to be desired in the eyes of some fans and peers. That includes in the mind of Pantoja, who has requested to see more from the former IMMAF champion if he’s to challenge for the belt.

And when it comes to Mokaev’s chances against “The Cannibal,” Kape recently explained why he expects “The Punisher” to be exposed against the division’s elite…

Kape: Mokaev ‘Tapped A Lot’ To Pantoja At ATT

During his appearance at UFC 304 media day on Wednesday, Kape looked ahead to his battle with Mokaev on Saturday night.

When discussing the champ’s comments about his opponent, “Starboy” referenced their history training together at American Top Team. Kape claimed that Mokaev no longer heads to the Coconut Creek-based facility to train due to the struggles he had on the ground against Pantoja.

“Pantoja can say a lot of things of him because they trained before together, and I know Pantoja had been submitting him a lot, a lot,” Kape said. “He (Mokaev) tapped a lot. It’s the reason that Mokaev don’t go train more at ATT.”

If that’s true, it seemingly wouldn’t be a surprise for Kape, whose analysis of Mokaev’s game has led to him identifying plenty of mistakes for high-level flyweights to exploit inside the Octagon.

“There is a lot of mistakes. He’s been struggling a lot. A lot, a lot of mistakes. If he faces somebody in the top three of the UFC (flyweight) rankings, he’s gonna get finished. So it’s gonna be fun.”

Kape will hope that also applies to some further down the pecking order, with the Angola-born Portuguese flyweight currently occupying the #8 position on the 125-pound ladder.

He’ll be looking to climb further toward contention and perhaps secure a top five spot by putting on a standout performance on UK soil this weekend.

Continue Reading Manel Kape Claims Muhammad Mokaev Stopped Training At ATT After Being Constantly Submitted By Alexandre Pantoja at MMA News.

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.

Leon Edwards Expects Layoff To Affect 36-Year-Old Belal Muhammad At UFC 304: ‘He Was Slow Anyway!’ 

UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards believes he’ll have the advantage of more recent activity over Belal Muhammad this weekend. Edwards will put his 170-pound title on the line for the third time at the UFC 304 pay-per-view event on Saturday night, headlining the card in front of his home fans at the Co-op Live arena […]

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UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards believes he’ll have the advantage of more recent activity over Belal Muhammad this weekend.

Edwards will put his 170-pound title on the line for the third time at the UFC 304 pay-per-view event on Saturday night, headlining the card in front of his home fans at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

Having retained possession of the gold at the expense of Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington in 2023, Edwards is next tasked with revisiting his history with Muhammad over three years on from their first fight.

The pair had a UFC Fight Night main event back in 2021 end in disaster after an accidental eye poke rendered “Remember the Name” unable to continue.

While “Rocky” went on to achieve title glory, Muhammad has worked his way to first shot at the belt and rematch with the Brit courtesy of five straight wins over Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, Vicente Luque, Sean Brady, and Gilbert Burns.

Some have pointed to that impressive run to justify their predictions for ‘and new’ in the UFC 304 main event. Edwards, however, believes the wait to extend the streak will be to Muhammad’s disadvantage…

Edwards: 14-Month Layoff Could Impact Muhammad At UFC 304

During a recent interview with Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter, Edwards looked ahead to his third defense of the welterweight title and second on home soil since capturing it at the expense of Usman almost two years ago.

“Rocky” pointed out that Muhammad has been awaiting his opportunity ever since outpointing Burns in May 2023. And with the champ having got the better of Covington last December, he expects the seven-month disparity in their layoffs to show itself at UFC 304.

“Come next Saturday, he hasn’t fought for more than a year. He’s 36 years old now? 37 years old? Whatever he is. And he was slow anyway,” Edwards said with a laugh. “I feel like me now coming out, I fought in December and been training ever since. I feel like I’ve had the harder fights. I’ve had similar style matchups my last three or four fights. So I feel like it’s all playing out well, you know?”

When he enters the cage on July 27, Muhammad will be looking to break a record and prove a notable stat regarding age wrong. A victory would mark him as the oldest title challenger to win gold in the 170-pound division or lower.

Nevertheless, while stats would point to his age as a significant advantage for the champ, Edwards insisted he is preparing for and ready to dispatch the best possible Muhammad come fight night in Manchester.

Continue Reading Leon Edwards Expects Layoff To Affect 36-Year-Old Belal Muhammad At UFC 304: ‘He Was Slow Anyway!’  at MMA News.