Interim champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the heavyweight division, Tom Aspinall, recently made a public announcement regarding his participation in the forthcoming UFC event in Manchester scheduled for this summer. Aspinall confirmed his plans via a TikTok video, stating that he has engaged in discussions with the UFC and has been officially enlisted to compete in the highly anticipated event.
In his statement, Aspinall conveyed, “It has now been confirmed that I am fighting at UFC Manchester, so I am back home preparing for that now.” This declaration comes subsequent to UFC president Dana White expressing his intent to include Aspinall along with welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the lineup for the pay-per-view event.
Last November, Aspinall clinched the interim title and is presently gearing up to safeguard it while reigning champion Jon Jones is sidelined due to injury. Despite attending UFC 300 in Las Vegas, Aspinall revealed that he has embarked on the early phases of his training camp in readiness for the much-anticipated battle in his native land.
Reports suggest that the UFC is eyeing a date towards the end of July for the Manchester event, and Aspinall, with 14 victories and only three defeats, is enthusiastic about taking on his next challenger. While he refrained from divulging the identity of his opponent, he mentioned, “I’m just waiting for my opponent to accept.”
One potential opponent for Aspinall could be American contender Curtis Blaydes, who achieved victory against Aspinall in London in 2022 as a result of a knee injury sustained by Aspinall during their encounter.
As the excitement mounts for the upcoming UFC Manchester event, fans across the globe are undoubtedly anticipating Aspinall’s reentry into the octagon as he defends his title on home soil.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/mixed-martial-arts/59994743