Tom Aspinall confident despite ‘worst circumstances possible’ for #UFC295 title fight

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Fighting on less than three weeks’ notice at UFC 295, Tom Aspinall is confident of getting his hands raised against Sergei Pavlovich, whom he believes is “the scariest guy in MMA.”

Pavlovich (18-1) was supposed to be the backup fighter for the originally scheduled UFC 295 main event between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. However, Aspinall (13-3) chose to step up on short notice when the Ultimate Fighting Championship put together an interim title fight with Pavlovich after Jones was forced out due to an injury.

Aspinall admits “two weeks” aren’t enough to prepare for a fight and believes he is fighting Pavlovich under the worst possible circumstances. However, the Brit is a slight favorite as of publication time on many sportsbooks and has absolute confidence in his ability to find a way to win despite the deck being stacked against him.

“I’m fighting the scariest guy in MMA in my opinion, in the worst circumstances possible without a training camp,” the 30-year-old said during the UFC 295 media day. “I obviously think I can win. I’m not the kind of guy who shows up for money. I ain’t signing a contract and showing up if I don’t think I can win. I truly, truly believe that I’m going to win on Saturday night. I’m an absolute winner, and I’m going to find a way to win regardless of the circumstances.”

Aspinall has finished all six of his UFC victories so far with his only loss being a freak knee injury against Curtis Blaydes in 2022. Meanwhile, Pavlovich is coming off six straight first-round stoppage wins after suffering his lone pro loss in his UFC debut against Alistair Overeem in 2018.

Many fans and pundits believe the two surging prospects are the rightful contenders for the UFC heavyweight title, which they believe Jones should vacate. However, UFC CEO Dana White has clearly stated that the interim champ has to wait for the winner of Jones’ title defense against Miocic after the champ returns.


Continue Reading
https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/T...ances-Possible-for-UFC-295-Title-Fight-191663

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Poll Added

Spoiler: The Good Guys

@StonedLemur @Fight Professor @TerrorTimmy @Elvis. @ryun253 @don't ask @C0NCH3TO @MEAN357 @Cooliox @mudrubble @Bobby Boulders @Simple Southerner @svmr_db @Luthien @BoxerMaurits @Neck&Neck @SeattleFightFan @Ares Black @SalvadorAllende @Arm Barbarian @Blanqa Blanqua @Royce's Gi @Cooliox @Krixes @MXZT @wisdom blows @nonoob

 

[AmericanMMA]

Worst circumstances possible?

Saku fought Royce Gracie for AN HOUR AND A HALF in the 2000 GP, causing Gracie to quit on the stool.

He then went ahead THE VERY SAME NIGHT and fought IGOR VOVCHANCHYN for another FIFTEEN MINUTE round before his corner stopped it from going into an OT round...

Worst circumstances, my ass.

 

[Luthien]

Totally worth it Tom's fanboys have been insufferable Will be nice when they shut up for a minute after Pav flattens him

 

[93confirmed]

He's already making excuses. War PAV!

 

[OldBoy91]

Totally worth it Tom's fanboys have been insufferable Will be nice when they shut up for a minute after Pav flattens him

Just read your flair. Want Aspinall to win even more now.

 

[Luthien]

Just read your flair. Want Aspinall to win even more now.

 

[StonedLemur]

Poll Added

Spoiler: The Good Guys

@StonedLemur @Fight Professor @TerrorTimmy @Elvis. @ryun253 @don't ask @C0NCH3TO @MEAN357 @Cooliox @mudrubble @Bobby Boulders @Simple Southerner @svmr_db @Luthien @BoxerMaurits @Neck&Neck @SeattleFightFan @Ares Black @SalvadorAllende @Arm Barbarian @Blanqa Blanqua @Royce's Gi @Cooliox @Krixes @MXZT @wisdom blows @nonoob

A title shot is always worth it unless you absolutely have no confidence in yourself tbh sir.

 

[GreatSaintGuillotine]

Definitely worth it because this is going to be for the real belt. Jon will retire soon and the IC will become the real one. Plus this'll set up a storyline between him and Pav

 

[nonoob]

"Worst possible" is in his opinion only. Saying $hit like that is the reason some fighters are looked at as being soft when compared to the warriors who fought in tournaments, several times in a night, with No Clue of the size, or style, or the record of opponent they faced.

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

Saying he wasn’t preparing. I mean, should you not be preparing for these guys?

Gotta stay ready so you don’t have to get ready Tom.

I can’t really take to him.

He could have at least called himself ‘the scariest man in MMA’ lol

Though ironically I would have hated that too.

 

[don't ask]

I didn't realize he wasn't getting a full camp because I'd read that Pavlovich was. The UFC is just always coming up short when it comes to putting on fights that are on the level.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Totally worth it Tom's fanboys have been insufferable Will be nice when they shut up for a minute after Pav flattens him

A title shot is always worth it unless you absolutely have no confidence in yourself tbh sir.

 

[WhiteMousse]

Would have been nice to see Jones scream out in pain trying to take Stipe down.

Then Miocic could get some shots in before Herb slides in to wave it off.

 

[HaulParris]

Worth it in the sense that he gets paid (probably with some backstage bonus as well) and earns points with UFC brass for being a company man, which is heloful for longevity in the UFC regardless of win-loss record down the line (like Cerrone).

 

[Kenny Powerth]

Is it a real TS though?

IC and then another title fight before that

 

[gentel]

IDK why he's making these excuses in advance, yeah Pavlovich was the backup fighter but so what? Backup fighters are backup fighters and only fighting if an emergency happens. Champion level fighters should be training all the time whether a fight is coming up or not. And it's not like Pavlovich was training for Aspinall, he was training for either Jones or Stipe depending on who got injured

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Would have been nice to see Jones scream out in pain trying to take Stipe down.

Then Miocic could get some shots in before Herb slides in to wave it off.

Worth it in the sense that he gets paid (probably with some backstage bonus as well) and earns points with UFC brass for being a company man, which is heloful for longevity in the UFC regardless of win-loss record down the line (like Cerrone).

Is it a real TS though?

IC and then another title fight before that

Winner gets this guy?

 

[Siver!]

View attachment 1010786

Fighting on less than three weeks’ notice at UFC 295, Tom Aspinall is confident of getting his hands raised against Sergei Pavlovich, whom he believes is “the scariest guy in MMA.”

Pavlovich (18-1) was supposed to be the backup fighter for the originally scheduled UFC 295 main event between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. However, Aspinall (13-3) chose to step up on short notice when the Ultimate Fighting Championship put together an interim title fight with Pavlovich after Jones was forced out due to an injury.

Aspinall admits “two weeks” aren’t enough to prepare for a fight and believes he is fighting Pavlovich under the worst possible circumstances. However, the Brit is a slight favorite as of publication time on many sportsbooks and has absolute confidence in his ability to find a way to win despite the deck being stacked against him.

“I’m fighting the scariest guy in MMA in my opinion, in the worst circumstances possible without a training camp,” the 30-year-old said during the UFC 295 media day. “I obviously think I can win. I’m not the kind of guy who shows up for money. I ain’t signing a contract and showing up if I don’t think I can win. I truly, truly believe that I’m going to win on Saturday night. I’m an absolute winner, and I’m going to find a way to win regardless of the circumstances.”

Aspinall has finished all six of his UFC victories so far with his only loss being a freak knee injury against Curtis Blaydes in 2022. Meanwhile, Pavlovich is coming off six straight first-round stoppage wins after suffering his lone pro loss in his UFC debut against Alistair Overeem in 2018.

Many fans and pundits believe the two surging prospects are the rightful contenders for the UFC heavyweight title, which they believe Jones should vacate. However, UFC CEO Dana White has clearly stated that the interim champ has to wait for the winner of Jones’ title defense against Miocic after the champ returns.


Continue Reading
https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/T...ances-Possible-for-UFC-295-Title-Fight-191663

I've grown very confident that Aspinall wins.

When he walked into the UFC with a 7-2 record and a bit of hype, I thought "well he can't be that good", but the guy is a monster. His power is just incredible, every shot he lands (even blocked shots) seem to send guys loopy. His takedowns have looked unstoppable, too.

It's a real shame we never got the Blaydes fight in a true sense, because that is easily the toughest opponent he's ever lined up against.

Destroying guys like Spivak, Tybura and Volkov is for sure impressive, but nothing Pavlovich couldn't have done.

Good job that 2021 fight between Aspinall and Pavlovich never happened! We've got two monsters charging in for a head on collision now, and I'm here for it.

Obviously whoever lands a good shot first has a real chance of finishing this one, and that makes both live bets: but I think Aspinall is better. I think he taps Pav in either R1 or R2.

 

[Cooliox]

Hmm, I don't agree with this beign the worst circumstances possible.

Did he not just see Volk and Usman stepping up a weight class to fight on 10 days notice?

That too, they had to cut weight... and they were fighting opponents who had full camps.

3 Weeks notice, HW fight where you don't have to cut weight.

I don't see how that so bad. Yes, sure. it would be nice to get a full 2 months camp I guess.

Sergei was the backup fighting for the HW title fight, right?

I guess he had a bit more time to train. But this is hardly worst case scenario.


Only downside is that it's not actually for the title. It is for an interim title... that too, the champ has no plan to come back and fight the interim champion. Total paper belt.