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Tom Aspinall repeated history when he knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in a short-notice interim heavyweight title fight at UFC 295. The win was reminiscent of fellow Englishman Michael Bisping’s knockout win over Luke Rockhold at UFC 199, which made him the undisputed middleweight champion.
Aspinall accepted the fight on short notice after UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones pulled out of the main event contest against Stipe Miocic due to a training injury. The UFC went ahead with an interim title fight between the back-up fighter for the event, Sergei Pavlovich, and Aspinall.
Riding a six-fight knockout streak, Sergei Pavlovich was regarded as a dangerous threat due to his precise striking. Meanwhile, Aspinall’s tendency to keep the chin high was perceived as a major flaw, despite an overall well-rounded game.
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However, the Brit proved to be the faster and more effective striker between the two and knocked out Pavlovich in a little over one minute.
Watch the knockout sequence below:
With the win, Aspinall has more or less confirmed a meeting with Jon Jones, unless the UFC keeps Jones' fight with Stipe Miocic intact. However, the 30-year-old’s impressive performance has MMA fans worried for the current undisputed heavyweight champion.
Check out some fan reactions to Aspinall’s win:
"Jon Jones just announced he’s going back down to 205."
"Unpopular opinion: Tom Aspinall will be the first man to defeat Jon Jones."
"Tom Aspinall would fu***ng demolish Jon Jones dear lord."
Tom Aspinall dedicates UFC interim title to his father
Tom Aspinall realized the dream of becoming a UFC title holder by taking a high-risk short-notice fight against a dangerous opponent. The British fighter dedicated the win to his father during the post-fight interview and went on to put the belt on his father’s shoulders.
Aspinall said:
“I believe in myself. I’ve worked really hard over the years and this man right here, my father, he has worked harder than anybody. So, this belt is dedicated to my father.”
Watch the full octagon interview below:
