Tom Aspinall successfully defended his UFC interim heavyweight championship by delivering a devastating first-round knockout to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 on Saturday night. This victory positions the British fighter for a potential blockbuster showdown with the legendary Jon Jones.
Aspinall stunned Blaydes with a powerful right hand, sending him crashing to the mat. He then sealed the victory with a series of follow-up punches to the head, ending the fight within the first minute of the opening round. This swift and decisive win immediately ignited discussions about a future clash for the undisputed heavyweight title.
Following his impressive win, the 31-year-old Aspinall directly challenged Jon Jones to a unification bout. Jones, widely considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists ever, has been inactive due to a torn pectoral tendon sustained before his last scheduled fight in March 2023.
Jones`s injury necessitated the creation of an interim title. However, the path to a Jones vs. Aspinall fight isn`t entirely clear, as Jones is expected to first defend his title against Stipe Miocic once he recovers and is medically cleared to compete.
“Who wants to see Tom Aspinall versus Jon Jones?” Aspinall asked the enthusiastic crowd in Manchester, marking UFC`s return to the city since 2016.
Addressing Jones directly through the camera, Aspinall confidently stated, “I just think I`m better than you. I know I can beat you in a fight.”
Edwards vs. Muhammad
In the welterweight division, Belal Muhammad claimed the championship title with a unanimous decision victory over Leon Edwards. Muhammad, representing Chicago, Illinois, expressed satisfaction in defeating Edwards in front of his home crowd.
“It sounds like all the people booing have a lot of tears in their eyes,” Muhammad commented after his win. “We`ve got a real champion in Chicago now.”
Muhammad, now boasting a record of 24-3, celebrated his victory by dropping to his knees as the championship belt was placed around his waist. This win extends his unbeaten streak to 11 fights, with his last loss dating back to 2019.
Edwards, with a record of 22-4, had previously won the title against Kamaru Usman in 2022 and had successfully defended it twice.
The history between Edwards and Muhammad includes a no-contest in 2021 due to an accidental eye poke, which ultimately set both fighters on winning streaks leading to this title match. Edwards had secured four consecutive wins, while Muhammad had achieved five straight victories.
Aspinall vs. Blaydes Rematch
In their previous encounter, Blaydes had defeated Aspinall in just 15 seconds after Aspinall suffered a knee injury.
“Now, I`ve got my revenge, thank God,” Aspinall acknowledged after his dominant victory.
Aspinall`s interim title win at UFC 295 against Sergei Pavlovich made him the first British heavyweight champion in UFC history.
The interim title fight was arranged on short notice after Jon Jones suffered a pectoral tendon tear during training, forcing the cancellation of his heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic.
The highly anticipated bout between Jones and Miocic is expected to be rescheduled, possibly for November at Madison Square Garden, with the winner then slated to face Aspinall to unify the heavyweight championship.
Jones, who turned 37 in July, had recently indicated his preparation for the Miocic fight, stating on social media that he was “16 weeks away from fighting the most decorated heavyweight in UFC history” and felt in excellent condition as training camp approached.
Against Blaydes, Aspinall secured his 12th career knockout. Remarkably, only one of his nine UFC fights has gone beyond the first round.
“I`m the best finisher in the UFC, man,” Aspinall declared confidently.
Pimblett`s Victory
Another highlight of the event was Liverpool`s own Paddy Pimblett, who extended his winning streak to eight fights, including six in the UFC, by submitting Bobby Green in the first round.
Pimblett secured a submission victory over Green at 3:22 of the first round, sending a clear message to the lightweight division that he is aiming for main event fights and the championship.
“Statement made,” Pimblett asserted. “To all you haters out there that said I`d never get a ranking, what now? Are they going to move the goal posts again?”