From ‘one of the lowest points’ of his life to interim UFC heavyweight champion: the rise of Tom Aspinall

Tom Aspinall was seen as the next best thing. Five wins to open his UFC career had him on course for a title shot.

Five wins to open his UFC career had Tom Aspinall on course for a title shot. Then everything changed for the heavyweight MMA fighter 13 seconds into his clash with American Curtis Blaydes in 2022 in a fight which headlined a sold-out show at the O2 Arena in London. A kick from Aspinall connected with Blaydes’ leg and the British fighter dropped to the canvas, clutching his knee in pain, with the fight ending prematurely. Blaydes looked confused. Aspinall was in pain. The magnitude of the situation was evident. Aspinall had torn his medial collateral ligament, his meniscus and suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage. He underwent immediate surgery and missed a year of action, which he says was “one of the lowest points of my life.” “That sounds pretty superficial, but I give everything to fighting really,” the 31-year-old told CNN Sport. “At the time, it was awful.”