Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall successfully defended his belt on Saturday in the UFC 304 co-main event and made short work of challenger Curtis Blaydes. The bout was a rematch. Their first meeting in July 2022 ended in just 15 seconds. Aspinall suffered a knee injury the ended the fight.
In front front of a home crowd, Aspinall avenged the loss in dramatic fashion. He only needed 60 seconds to finish Blaydes
Blaydes was comfortable standing and trading with Aspinall but it proved to be a terrible idea. Aspinall caught Blaydes with a straight left that sent the challenger crashing to the canvas. Aspinall followed up with a right as Blaydes was falling. Once on the ground, Aspinall finished the fight. Referee Marc Goddard stopped the action after Blaydes was no longer intelligently defending himself.
IT'S OVER IN ONE MINUTE!
TOM ASPINALL KNOCKS OUT CURTIS BLAYDES #UFC304 🏴 pic.twitter.com/p4sbx6vGOf
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 28, 2024
“I had nothing against him personally, but we needed to put that one to bed,” Aspinall said after the win. “Before it was a freak accident. Now I’ve got my revenge.”
Aspinall has been seeking a fight with champion Jon Jones, and he did so again on Saturday in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier.
“I’m the best finisher in the UFC,” Aspinall said. “Let me just say, I spoke with the bossman, and who wants to see Tom Aspinall versus Jon Jones?
“Hello Jon, I have nothing against you personally, but I just think I’m better than you. I just know that I can beat you in a fight, so I’m fighting for it.”
