THE Octagon returns to Madison Square Garden for the UFC’s 30th anniversary event this weekend, with Brit Tom Aspinall aiming to make history in the co-main event.
The 30-year-old from Atherton, Greater Manchester takes on Russian Sergei Pavlovich for the Interim UFC heavyweight title after the full championship fight dropped off due to injury.
Two weeks ago, heavyweight champion Jon Jones suffered a torn pectoral that required surgery, forcing his landmark fight with Stipe Miocic to get postponed.
But with Pavlovich already in training as a reserve, the UFC offered Aspinall the opportunity to jump in and challenge for Interim honours.
“I’ve been training my whole life for an opportunity like this,” Tom says.
“So, it really doesn’t matter that it was just two weeks, I’ve been training for like 22 years and I’m confident I can beat any heavyweight in the world, including Pavlovich.”
Aspinall did, however, describe his Russian adversary as the “scariest man in the sport” and with good reason.
POWER AT PLAY
Pavlovich boasts an 18-1 MMA record that includes 15 knockouts.
In fact, the 31-year-old from Rostov Oblast has knocked out six of his most recent opponents – the last three of which were ranked – and all in the first round.
SERGEI PAVLOVICH FIGHT WEEK #UFC295 pic.twitter.com/sEx10juqv9
— Squid Vicious MMA (@SquidViciousMMA) November 6, 2023
Combined, Pavlovich’s six wins in the UFC surmounts to an Octagon time of just 12 minutes and 57 seconds.
But, then, Aspinall’s 13-3 career slate is equally as destructive.
Big Tom has finishes in every one of his 13 victories and, since joining the UFC in 2020, he’s ran up a 6-1 record identical to Pavlovich.
Combined, his four knockouts and two submission victories tally up to just 15 minutes and 57 seconds.
Aspinall’s sole UFC defeat only lasted 15 seconds also, when he kicked Curtis Blaydes in the belly in London but ruptured his knee ligaments which cost him a year of his career.
It's Tom Aspinall fight week pic.twitter.com/b4lgGlCVWc
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) November 6, 2023
Pavlovich’s sole career loss arrived on his UFC debut in China in 2018, when he suffered a legitimate first round knockout at the hands of Alistair Overeem. It led to him taking a three-year hiatus from the sport.
MONSTER MASH
Both are huge, athletic specimens. Muscle bound behemoths who have to cut muscle mass to make the 265lb heavyweight limit.
Despite his wrecking ball like power being his biggest asset, Pavlovich is fast on his feet, dynamic with his striking and has a solid background in Greco-Roman wrestling and, from his time in the military, Combat Sambo.
Aspinall, meanwhile, grew up rolling Brazilian jiu-jitsu with his head coach and father Andy. He added wrestling in his teenage years along with boxing and kickboxing.
Over the years, Aspinall has sparred “thousands of rounds” with Tyson Fury.
When you have two men of this size and talent, with equally destructive power, predicting an outcome is like flipping a coin. Whoever lands clean first will have a significant edge.
But it’s Aspinall’s abilities on the ground, with his black belt in jiu-jitsu, that ultimately separates them.
Most fights eventually hit the canvas and Tom’s ability to isolate an arm or take the back to set up a choke will prove crucial.
NICK’S TIP
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