UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall admitted his strategy of calling out the winner of the UFC Paris could have been better thought through, having already defeated one contender, Serghei Spivak, but added that he thinks all the top heavyweights, including Sergei Pavlovich and Ciryl Gane, will end up fighting each other eventually on the path to a title bout.
UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall revealed that he had a strategic mind when he decided to challenge the winner of UFC Paris, following his successful comeback at UFC London. However, Aspinall conceded his approach could benefit from improvements. He had enthusiastically appealed for a match against the victor of the Ciryl Gane vs. Serghei Spivak fight, planned as the main event in UFC Paris. However, it’s worth mentioning that he emerged victorious in a crushing first-round TKO against Spivak in 2021.
Another fighter who goes by the same first name, though differently spelled, could possibly present a more viable alternative for Aspinall’s legacy and aspirations. That fighter is Sergei Pavlovich, also a rising star in the UFC heavyweight championship. However, Aspinall held back on reaching out to him for a few particular reasons. Aspinall shared his viewpoint during his appearance on The MMA Hour, saying, “I mean, it would be smart to save it for a title, as well, because I’m pretty confident that we’re going fight for it multiple times.”
He also pointed out that he was partially influenced by Michael Bisping, who advised him to always challenge the fighter who just lost a title, as that’s what the audience wants. Aspinall envisioned Ciryl Gane, who recently lost a title, and thought it would be perfect, if Gane wins his next fight. However, Aspinall acknowledged that it wouldn’t be ideal if Spivak wins against Gane, leading to a re-match that no one wanted. He confessed how new he was to “calling out” contenders, a departure from his usual style. Nevertheless, he was simply hoping to stage another fight and was pleased by the overwhelming public reaction to his bold move.
Aspinall, who is currently at the peak of his career, plans to expand his role outside the octagon. He believes aligning himself with the rising stars is a smart move. Keeping his vision in mind, he’s aiming to do more punditry work for TNT Sport and other European events. If Pavlovich ends up being his next opponent, Aspinall clarifies that he has no inhibitions about it, having had a prior booking scuttled due to Pavlovich’s visa issues. Aspinall concluded the interview by saying, “I think we’re all going to end up fighting each other anyway, so the order doesn’t really matter as much.”