Tom Aspinall is ready to put on another marquee performance at UFC London.
In March Aspinall was the UFC’s headliner on its first visit to London for over three years. He submitted Alexander Volkov in round one. Aspinall’s show capped off an incredible night of fights in London. UFC President Dana White said that she would be returning soon. On Saturday, that promise will be fulfilled as once again Aspinall headlines in front of his home crowd. And as a man partly responsible for the UFC’s quick return to the O2 Arena, Aspinall guarantees this event will live up to the hype.
“It’s a great feeling, and I believe a large part of the reason we are back is due to me,” Aspinall stated ahead of UFC London .. Although I don’t mean to be egotistical or crazy, I believe that he was able to see me without pulling him away from the table — it wasn’t as if I were asking him questions. It wasn’t, “Oh Dana,” that I meant. I said, “Dana, please return here.” He agreed to it. He couldn’t really say no because it was an unbelievable night in March and there’s going to be another unbelievable night this Saturday.
” It’s an exclusive place to fight, and we have special fighters on this card. So it won’t be boring. It’s going to be absolutely wild.”
If the first trip to London is any indication, then Saturday’s card should be special.
However, Aspinall is facing an even tougher test this time around. Aspinall will face Curtis Blaydes in the main event. 5-ranked heavyweight on the MMA Fighting Global Rankings. Blaydes will prove to be Aspinall’s biggest challenge, but the English fighter feels he is ahead of Blaydes going into the bout.
“You can’t buy experience, and I’ve been here before,” Aspinall said. I think everyone who is on this card should be aware that English fans can be very different, regardless of whether they are a home or away fighter. There are many things that make the U.K. fan different from other world fans. You can’t help but be astonished by their enthusiasm and wild atmosphere.
Aspinall’s potential advantage is still to be discovered.
Even though Aspinall acknowledges that it is difficult to know how the fight will turn out, the Manchester native does not care. Aspinall claims he is ready for anything and will fight whatever happens.
” This is MMA. He’s a great wrestler, he’s great at other stuff as well, so I have to be expecting everything,” Aspinall said. He is a huge threat to the world of wrestling, and I have prepared. I’ve prepared for everything. This is MMA — you can’t just be like, ‘Oh, he’s going to come out and just take me down.’ Obviously he’s got great takedowns, but I’m ready for his striking as well, and his submission game. It is important to have everything prepared.
” I’m a winner. It’s what I really care about. I want to win. It doesn’t matter how you win. But I’m a fierce, fierce competitor. I’m fiercely competitive, and I’m trying to win. That’s it.”
