Tom Aspinall’s next fight: Interim title bout confirmed for UFC 304
Associated PressInterim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall finally has a date, location, and opponent for his first fight since winning the belt at UFC 295.
Aspinall is 7-1 since joining the UFC in July 2022. He won the interim heavyweight strap in his last match vs Sergei Pavlovich, cementing his status as a bonafide star in the sport.
All seven of his UFC victories have come via stoppage, including five knockouts and two submissions, highlighting Aspinall’s exciting brand of fighting.
The 31-year-old has been patiently waiting for a chance to unify his interim belt with Jon Jones’ official heavyweight title. However, Jones is busy preparing for a super fight against heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic.
Now, Aspinall says the UFC has informed him where he will be fighting next, and UK fans are beaming with excitement over this latest development.
When is Tom Aspinall’s next fight?
Aspinall revealed on his TikTok account that he would be in the co-main event for the UFC 304 card on July 27 in Manchester, England.
While this isn’t the title fight Aspinall was seeking vs Jones, it aligns with Dana White’s recent comments about the UFC returning to Manchester.
White named Aspinall as the co-main event of UFC 304, with fellow Englishman Leon Edwards occupying the main event. The rest of the card is stacked, just as the UFC CEO promised the British fans months ago.
The company has hosted more than two dozen fight cards in England, with a vast majority being set in London. UFC 304 marks the fifth trip to Manchester, and the first time since UFC 204 in Oct. 2016.
Who is Tom Aspinall fighting next?
Dana White announced that Aspinall will fight Curtis Blaydes with the interim heavyweight title on the line at UFC 304.
While Jon Jones prepares for Stipe Miocic, Aspinall will finally return to the octagon on July 27 in front of his home country of England.
UFC 304 presents the star fighter with a chance to avenge the lone loss on his UFC resume as he takes on the number four ranked heavyweight contender in the promotion.
As stated, Blaydes represents the only blemish on the champion’s UFC record to this point, but the victory was marred by a brutal injury to Aspinall’s right knee.
In the first round of their July 23, 2022 bout, Aspinall delivered a hard kick that ultimately tore his own MCL and meniscus, resulting in a knockout victory for Blaydes only 15 seconds after the opening bell.
Blaydes has four victories in his past five fights and provides a formidable foe for Aspinall in his inaugural title defense as the UFC interim heavyweight champion.
Will Tom Aspinall fight Jon Jones?
Jon Jones will fight Stipe Miocic when he returns to the octagon, but the winner of Aspinall vs Blaydes gets first crack at whoever prevails from the Jones and Miocic battle.
Jones accidentally revealed in a now-deleted post that he’s expecting to fight Miocic later in the year at Madison Square Garden. ‘Bones’ has been recovering from a torn pectoral suffered in his last fight, causing a logjam in the division.
But that injury opened the door for Aspinall to compete for the interim heavyweight strap while Jones was on the shelf. He seized a dominant knockout victory against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295.
White has ensured fans that whoever wins out of Jones and Miocic will be fighting Aspinall next — assuming he retains his interim title in Manchester against Blaydes.
Tom Aspinall’s career UFC record
Aspinall is 14-3 in his MMA career, including a 7-1 record with five knockouts in his still-young UFC tenure.
His most recent victory over Pavolvich secured UFC gold for the first time in his career, albeit on an interim basis.
Aspinall will defend that strap in front of his home country this summer against former foe Curtis Blaydes. Then, if he takes care of business, a date with Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic awaits.
