The wait is over for British MMA fans as hometown hero Tom Aspinall is officially set to defend his interim UFC heavyweight championship against American contender Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 this summer in Manchester.
Redemption Opportunity for Aspinall
This marks a significant redemption opportunity for the Wigan-born fighter, whose first encounter with Blaydes ended in heartbreak just 15 seconds into their July 2022 bout. A devastating knee injury forced Aspinall to withdraw, handing Blaydes a technical knockout victory.
Since that setback, Aspinall has mounted an impressive comeback, securing two spectacular first-round knockouts against Marcin Tybura and most recently claiming the interim title with a stunning 69-second victory over Sergei Pavlovich at Madison Square Garden.
Blaydes Presents Formidable Challenge
Standing across the octagon will be Curtis 'Razor' Blaydes, currently ranked fourth in the heavyweight division and riding the momentum of a dominant second-round knockout victory over Jailton Almeida in March. The American wrestler represents one of the most dangerous challenges in the division.
Blaydes has been vocal about his desire for another shot at Aspinall, telling MMA Junkie: "I want that fight. I feel like that's a fight that needs to happen for either him or me to get to the champ."
Stacked Card for Manchester
UFC 304 promises to be one of the biggest events in UK MMA history, featuring another massive title fight as British superstar Leon Edwards defends his welterweight championship against Belal Muhammad in the night's main event.
The Co-op Live arena in Manchester will host what's expected to be a sold-out crowd, with Aspinall fighting in front of his home fans for the first time since his injury recovery.
Path to Undisputed Gold
While Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic are scheduled to settle their rivalry later this year, the winner of Aspinall vs Blaydes 2 positions themselves as the clear next contender for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
Aspirall has made no secret of his ultimate goal, stating: "I want to be the undisputed champion. This is another step toward that goal, and doing it in Manchester makes it even more special."
