Tom Aspinall hasn’t stepped back into the octagon since clinching the interim heavyweight title with a thunderous first-round knockout against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 last November. Recently, he offered an update on his return while also shedding light on the UFC’s rumored comeback to Manchester.
In a TikTok video, Aspinall shared his excitement, saying,
“Right, I’m just back from Vegas. I was over there doing YouTube stuff, meetings, and all of that stuff. I had a meeting with the UFC. It has now been confirmed that I am fighting on UFC Manchester. So, I’m back home preparing for that now. I’ve started the early stages of training camp. I’m just waiting for my opponent to accept [the fight]. So stay tuned, keep up with the socials, and keep up with the YouTube channel and I’ll be announcing it very soon.”
Tom Aspinall Confirms UFC Return to Manchester and Calls Out Ciryl Gane
While Aspinall had hoped for a bout against Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic, both fighters and the promotion have reiterated their commitment to their planned matchup.
As a result, the interim heavyweight champion is likely to defend his belt against another formidable contender to solidify his position as the next challenger for the undisputed title.
TOM ASPINALL SAYS #UFC304 IN MANCHESTER IS OFFICIAL 👀
ps great sweatshirt @AspinallMMA pic.twitter.com/wqjwQ0r0Ms
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) April 17, 2024
In the midst of his aspirations, Aspinall didn’t shy away from addressing Ciryl Gane’s reluctance to a potential matchup. He expressed his frustrations during an interview with Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour, stating,
“He’s dismissed me on multiple occasions and I’m not the first guy that he’s dismissed. I’m not the first guy that he’s ducked. It’s out there for people to see. The reason that I got the Pavlovich fight was because Ciryl didn’t want it so he ducked Pavlovich. He then ducked Curtis Blaydes. Curtis Blaydes has been on record saying that.”
Despite the tension, Aspinall made it clear that he harbors no ill will towards Gane personally but disapproves of his professional conduct. He emphasized that he would be open to facing the No. 2-ranked heavyweight if that’s the direction the UFC chooses to take.
Aspinall’s determination to solidify his place in the heavyweight division showcases his eagerness to take on any challenge thrown his way, whether it’s defending his interim title or confronting opponents who have evaded him in the past.
