- Tom Aspinall discussed how he sees himself beating Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295
- The 30-year-old admitted that he needs to beat Jon Jones to become the best fighter in the world
Tom Aspinall is just days away from possibly becoming the UFC’s interim heavyweight champion as he faces Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. Ahead of the massive fight, the 30-year-old is expecting to finish his opponent as quick as possible and opened up about his desire to take Jon Jones.
Tom prefers a quick KO win
In a recent interview with Michael Bisping, Aspinall said that he is very confident about his movement. However, he would be glad to knock Pavlovich out with the very first punch he will throw.
Aspinall won five of his six UFC victories via first round and he is expecting to do the same against Pavlovich at UFC 295. On the other hand, he will also be thrilled to go five rounds if the opportunity to score a finish doesn’t come.
“I think I move even better than most middleweights to be honest, I’m not like blowing my own trumpet. I’m being honest… I’m trying to be like the best mover that the heavyweight division has ever seen and I think I’m well on my way to doing it,” Aspinall boasted.
“I honestly think that I’m one of the best finishers in the UFC. And as corny as it might sound you got to be in it to win it and I’m here I’m here so I’ve got a chance of winning. This heavyweight MMA regardless of training camps and how long I’ve had to prepare and everything.”
“If I can get the fight done in the first 10 seconds, I absolutely will every single time but I’m not looking for that. When I don’t look for a finish, that’s when the finish has come every single time especially my last three or four fights have been main events, five rounders so I’m pacing myself in there. I’ll be pacing myself in there on Saturday as well. I reckon second or third I think I can finish him in the second or third but if it’s a five rounder, I’m happy with that as well but mate let’s not get anything twisted here, if I can finish him with the first punch, I absolutely will,” he added.
Jon Jones is still out there
Aspinall knows that beating Pavlovich and winning the interim heavyweight title is almost equivalent to becoming the baddest man in all MMA. However, Tom also admitted that as much as he would be proud of the title, he knew deep down that he would still need to beat Jones and he hopes to do so sooner rather than later.
“There’s still Jon Jones lurking around there but who knows if he’s going to come, I don’t know, I don’t know what he’s doing, I don’t know him personally or anything like that but I think, I honestly think I can win… I’m not going to show up to a fight, fly across the world and sign a contract if I don’t think I’m going to win so obviously I’m here to win and nothing else,” Aspinall pointed out.
To be the first heavyweight champion from UK means a lot
If everything plays out accordingly for Aspinall, he will become the first heavyweight champion to hail from the UK. For Tom, it would mean a lot and would speak volumes about his greatness.
“That’s going to mean so much to me honestly… I can’t even put it into words what that will mean. It’s just massive. It’s just absolutely massive to be the first UK heavyweight champion, only the third champion in the UFC from the UK after of course you [Bisping] and Leon Edwards who I look up to massively, mate that is something special and I just can’t wait for it,” Aspinall opened up.
Aspinall is coming off a comeback win over Marcin Tybura after ending his winning streak against Curtis Blaydes. He and Pavlovcih both agreed to face each other for the interim title after Jones was forced to pull out from his title fight with Stipe Miocic due to a shoulder injury.
Check out Aspinall’s full interview below:
