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Brit Aspinall, 4-0 UFC, 4 finishes, 3 in the 1st round, 3 POTNs, is headlining UFC Fight Night 204 in London in his first fight in the UK for the organisation and his first top 10 opponent. The home crowd will be silenced when Volkov has his hand raised and makes Aspinall's much hyped bigtime debut a flop.
Aspinall was originally booked against Shamil Abdurakhimov but opponents were reshuffled. Volkov is a massive step up for Tom, a 6'7", 265lb, 80 inch reach high level striker with a much-improved ground game, 34-9 record and who has been in the cage with top names such as Derrick Lewis, Curtis Blaydes, Alistair Overeem and Ciryl Gane. Aspinall is 11-2 and the biggest name he has fought thus far is Andrei Arlovski.
He's going to be out of his depth against a striker of Volkov's class and I doubt he will get far trying to grapple. Aspinall is predominantly a striker but he can wrestle and has BJJ as well, he did submit Arlovski which isn't easy but Volkov will dominate him on the feet, he has the range, timing and distance control plus a varied output and plenty of power. He (T)KOed Werdum and Overeem. Aspinall will be looking for the takedown but Volkov 2.0's TDD is very nice and even when he does get taken down he takes very little damage. The last time has was submitted was 2010. Plus he has takedowns of his own.
I don't know if Alexander will get the (T)KO here or not, he may cruise to a comfortable decision but I guarantee he spoils the UK hype party and moves up closer to title contention. Aspinall will need to go back to the gym and evolve before taking another shot at the top 10.
