The chance to fight in front of his home English fans at UFC 304 in Manchester is a dream scenario for Tom Aspinall. However, the interim heavyweight champion has revealed his efforts to make that dream just a bit sweeter fell on deaf ears.
Tom Aspinall admitted he attempted to negotiate a more fan-friendly start time for the July 27 pay-per-view event’s main card. The current timings for UFC 304 have recently become an area of controversy. Moreover, Aspinall also doesn’t like the schedule. As such, he revealed that he spoke to top UFC brass about it.
I tried to ask the UFC brass, ‘Can we change the times?’ It didn’t go down well, mate! They were just like, ‘Nope.’ There wasn’t even any negotiations there.
Tom Aspinall via The MacLife
Despite UFC 304 taking place in Aspinall’s backyard of Manchester, the PPV main card will still kick off at the ungodly hour of 5 AM local time. This is a bitter pill for sleepy-eyed English fans to swallow. The timing is kept so that the US fans can tune in on the event late in the evening. Moreover, the UFC needs the PPV buys as well.
Tom Aspinall says he tried asking the UFC to change the start time of #UFC304 in Manchester:
“I tried to ask the UFC brass, ‘can we change the times’. Didn’t go down well mate.
They’re just like ‘nope’. There weren’t even any negotiations.”
🎥 @TheMacLife #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/nm7fidRaO5
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 24, 2024
For Aspinall, the rejected request added an extra wrinkle to an already massive challenge. His interim heavyweight title defense bout against Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event is unusual in itself. Belal Muhammad will take on Leon Edwards for the welterweight title in the main event. The card is stacked, but will the timings affect fight fans remains to be seen.
Tom Aspinall is primed for the title shot next
Tom Aspinall is leaving no room for ambiguity if he gets past Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. He wants the undisputed heavyweight strap next with no more complications. He clarifies that this would be his final fight as the ‘interim champion.’
Tom Aspinall wants the title shot after Curtis Blaydes (via MMA Fighting)Tom Aspinall gave his insights on the upcoming fight against Curtis Blaydes. The Brit believed that he deserved to unify his title against Jon Jones. Nevertheless, he was okay with getting the next shot at the undisputed title after dispatching Curtis Blaydes.
If I win this one, which I believe I will, the next fight has to be for undisputed (title) – definitely. I’ll wait it out if I have to after this one. But for right now, that doesn’t exist.
Tom Aspinall via talkSPORT
The surging British talent currently holds the interim heavyweight title after a devastating KO of Sergei Pavlovich. His first fight against Blaydes ended abruptly with a knee injury. Now, they intend to run it back once more, this time for the interim championship belt. A win would make Aspinall the leading candidate to fight for the undisputed gold.
