Tag: UFC London

Tom Aspinall Addresses Knee Injury Suffered At UFC London: ‘These Things Happen’

Tom AspinallUFC heavyweight contender, Tom Aspinall has released a lengthy statement in the aftermath of his UFC London headlining loss to Curtis Blaydes last night – after the Atherton native suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into the first round of their main event showdown.  Tom Aspinall, who headlined UFC London back in March, managed […]

Tom Aspinall

UFC heavyweight contender, Tom Aspinall has released a lengthy statement in the aftermath of his UFC London headlining loss to Curtis Blaydes last night – after the Atherton native suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into the first round of their main event showdown. 

Tom Aspinall, who headlined UFC London back in March, managed to continue his 100 per cent run in the organization with a one-sided straight armbar win against Alexander Volkov. 

Returning last night for the first time since his capital win over Volkov, Aspinall suffered his first promotional loss, appearing to suffer a catastrophic knee injury just 15 seconds into the first round of his matchup with perennial contender, Blaydes. 

Starting aggressively, Aspinall thundered home a massive right leg kick, however, when stepping back to his stance, the Team Kaobon staple immediately grimaced and clutched his right knee, falling to the canvas as referee, Herb Dean stopped the bout.

Requiring treatment in the Octagon, Aspinall’s leg was mobilized in a leg brace before he was escorted from the arena.

Tom Aspinall promises to “rebuild” and “come back stronger” from his knee injury 

Releasing a statement following his knee injury setback, Aspinall maintained that he would “come back stronger” and “rebuild”.

“Last night wasn’t my night, my training camp in the build up to the fight has been brilliant,” Tom Aspinall wrote in a statement. “Sometimes these things happen, now is the time to recover, rebuild and come back stronger!”

“Wanted to say a huge thank you to the UFC, the doctors and paramedics that looked after me. But, also to the fans! For all the messages you’ve sent and support you’ve given me, in the build up to the fight and after the freak injury. You’re all amazing.”

“Want to thank Curtis (Blaydes) for being a true gentleman, it didn’t work out how we both wanted, but to come and see me after for a beer makes you a legend in my eyes. Finally, my team and my family. We all know this is elite sport, we live to fight another day! Big love, Tom.” (H/T Chisanga Malata)

Following his release from hospital, Aspinall also shared a picture on his social media alongside the aforenoted, Blaydes – with the two sharing beers in his hotel room.

Curtis Blaydes Emphatically Rules Out Aspinall Rematch

Curtis Blaydes feels for Tom Aspinall and fans worldwide for the way UFC London ended but not bad enough to grant Aspinall an immediate rematch. At UFC London, one of the best heavyweight fights that could be booked in all of MMA was made when top-10 U…

Curtis Blaydes feels for Tom Aspinall and fans worldwide for the way UFC London ended but not bad enough to grant Aspinall an immediate rematch. At UFC London, one of the best heavyweight fights that could be booked in all of MMA was made when top-10 UFC heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall locked horns…

Continue Reading Curtis Blaydes Emphatically Rules Out Aspinall Rematch at MMA News.

Drake Rewards McCann & Pimblett For Winning Parlay Bet

It seems the Drake curse is slowly turning into a blessing. UFC London delivered a lucrative night for the rap superstar, who laid down a cool $2 million in a “Scouser’s parlay” that required both Molly McCann and Paddy Pimblett to ge…

It seems the Drake curse is slowly turning into a blessing. UFC London delivered a lucrative night for the rap superstar, who laid down a cool $2 million in a “Scouser’s parlay” that required both Molly McCann and Paddy Pimblett to get their hands raised. McCann delivered her end of the wager first, earning a…

Continue Reading Drake Rewards McCann & Pimblett For Winning Parlay Bet at MMA News.

Molly McCann’s Direct Message to Miranda Maverick: ‘I’ll F*** You Wherever You Want to be F***ed’

Molly McCann‘Meatball’ Molly McCann had a near repeat of her spectacular spinning back elbow knockout of Luana Carolina in the UFC’s return to the O2 Arena on Saturday. With a minute left into the first round of her UFC London contest with Hannah Goldy, McCann landed her patented back elbow. While it didn’t knock out Goldy […]

Molly McCann

‘Meatball’ Molly McCann had a near repeat of her spectacular spinning back elbow knockout of Luana Carolina in the UFC’s return to the O2 Arena on Saturday.

With a minute left into the first round of her UFC London contest with Hannah Goldy, McCann landed her patented back elbow. While it didn’t knock out Goldy in the same fashion that it did Carolina, it rocked Goldy, opening her up to a series of strikes that would eventually put ’24K’ away. It was another explosive victory for Liverpool’s favorite fighting female.

Following her win, McCann called out Antonina Shevchenko, the sister of UFC’s flyweight world champion Valentina Shevchenko. Appearing at the UFC London post-fight press conference with her partner in crime Paddy Pimblett at her side, McCann provided some additional insight into her callout of the elder Shevchenko.

“So, I never call anyone out. That’s not fair for me to do, but when you talk about legacy, prestige, and honor, like who’s the best in the game and it’s Valentina. Am I Valentina ready yet? No. Am I Antonina ready? Let’s see. I believe I am. This isn’t like a diss. This isn’t like I think I’m going F-U everywhere. No, it’s not, but I genuinely think this is an amazing fight to have. 

“If I ever make it to Shevchenko, they’ll have the blueprint, but I’ll also have the blueprint because I’ll know how to beat her sis there. So with the greatest respect, I’ve said her name because I think she’s the best. So I would like you to tell her that I believe she is the best. That’s why I’m trying to challenge her for that.” 

Molly McCann Will Fight ‘Anywhere, Any Place, Any Time’

When asked about the fighters who have called her out, specifically Miranda Maverick, Molly McCann had a rather interesting message to send. 

“I’m not a hype train and neither is [Paddy]. We’re from hard-working cities. Blue collar working class. Woke up every day since we’ve ever been alive to chase this dream from where we are from. We will fight anywhere, any place, any time with whoever f***ing wants it. Miranda, if you wanna, I’ll f*** you wherever you want to be f***ed.”

It was an interesting choice of words, but Molly McCann was able to get her point across. Miranda Maverick bounced back from a two-fight losing streak with a win over Sabina Mazo in March. Similarly, Antonina Shevchenko also snapped a two-fight losing skid when she defeated Cortney Casey via split decision on July 9th.

Paddy Pimblett Opens Up About Losing Friend to Suicide Before UFC London Victory

Paddy PimblettPaddy Pimblett once again gave the crowd in London a reason to cheer as ‘The Baddy’ scored his third straight win in the Octagon. Pimblett became the first man to finish ‘The Monkey King’ Jordan Leavitt when they met at the promotion’s 208th edition of UFC Fight Night. In the opening round, Leavitt appeared to […]

Paddy Pimblett

Paddy Pimblett once again gave the crowd in London a reason to cheer as ‘The Baddy’ scored his third straight win in the Octagon. Pimblett became the first man to finish ‘The Monkey King’ Jordan Leavitt when they met at the promotion’s 208th edition of UFC Fight Night. In the opening round, Leavitt appeared to have the advantage in the grappling game, but Pimblett quickly flipped the switch in the second round. In the end, the Liverpudlian made Leavitt tap to a rear-naked choke just past the halfway point of the round.

After his victory, Pimblett gave an impassioned post-fight speech letting the crowd know that he recently suffered a tragedy. A close friend of his passed away just days before his appearance at UFC London.

“I woke up on Friday morning at 4 A.M. to a message that one of my friends back home had killed himself… This was five hours before my weigh-in. So Ricky, lad, that’s for you.”

Following another spectacular win at the O2 Arena in London, Paddy Pimblett arrived at the UFC London post-fight press conference, as expected, with a heap of food and ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann at his side. McCann manned the microphone long enough to let the scouser finish his post-fight meal. Once on the mic, Pimblett took the opportunity to share thoughts on men’s mental health and the stigma that surrounds it.

“As I said, women talk to each other. There’s no stigma on women. They sit around, have a cup of tea, and have a jungle. Men don’t lad. Men feel like, ‘oh I can’t go and say that to him because he’ll think I’m a little mushroom.’ What I mean, that’s what men think, but as I said in the cage, I’d much rather my friend come to me and speak to me and cry on my shoulder than me have to cry while I’m carrying his coffin a week later.

“Split-second decisions ruin lives and that’s what happened this weekend. I just don’t know how Ricky’s mom and sister are getting through this. As I say, he was my friend. He wasn’t [my] son or my brother and it’s going to affect them a lot more than it affects me. As I say, people in the position that I’m in, people who have got a bit of spotlight so you’ve got a bit of a following, they should help people. Anyone who’s in a position like me should try and help someone.”

Paddy Pimblett Plans to Start a Charity to Help Break the Stigma Surrounding Mens’ Mental Health

Paddy Pimblett let members of the media know that helping people is exactly what he aims to do next by setting up a charity to help men who are silently suffering from mental health and feel like they have nowhere else to turn.

“Without all them fans, without all the people that adore us, we wouldn’t get paid. I just like giving back and as I said last time, I’m starting a charity for little kids, the little baddies, but obviously, now I’m thinking about doing a men’s mental health charity because the UK doesn’t give any funding for it. There’s no funding for mental health and it’s the biggest killer for men between 21 and 45 and no one talks about it.”

It was a beautiful moment of sincerity from the fighter who is mostly loved for throwing hands and epic post-fight binge eating. Pimblett confirmed he will be back in the Octagon before the end of 2022, but did not call out any specific fighters for his already anticipated fourth appearance.

If you or a loved one are in distress, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. The hotline provides “free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Fighters React To Blaydes’ Injury Stoppage Win Over Aspinall At UFC London

Curtis Blaydes secured a reluctant injury stoppage TKO win over Tom Aspinall in the main event of UFC London today. It was the second such anti-climactic end to a UFC main event in the last fortnight, with fans in the O2 Arena left wanting for what pro…

Curtis Blaydes secured a reluctant injury stoppage TKO win over Tom Aspinall in the main event of UFC London today. It was the second such anti-climactic end to a UFC main event in the last fortnight, with fans in the O2 Arena left wanting for what promised to be one of the most exciting heavyweight…

Continue Reading Fighters React To Blaydes’ Injury Stoppage Win Over Aspinall At UFC London at MMA News.