Tom Aspinall makes a triumphant return at UFC London with a statement victory. Read about his impressive win and his ambitious plans for the future.
Tom Aspinall’s Triumphant Return
Tom Aspinall banished a ghost at the O2 Arena on Saturday, securing a statement victory at UFC London to make a triumphant return, one year after suffering a severe injury in the same building.
In July 2022, Aspinall tore his MCL and stretched his ACL just 15 seconds into his main event with Curtis Blaydes, and almost exactly 365 days later, the Wigan heavyweight stopped Marcin Tybura in the first round to get back to winning ways.
Aspinall, 30, hurt Tybura early with a head kick but resisted getting carried away, instead biding his time – briefly, at least – before dropping the Pole, 37, with a straight right hand. Aspinall then pounced with hammer fists, forcing the stoppage with 1:13 on the clock, before climbing atop the cage to celebrate.
“I wasn’t myself last year, this is a whole new version of me,” Aspinall said in his post-fight interview. “I’m not gonna say that I’m back, because I’m different. My mind’s different, my body’s different. I’m going all the way [to the belt].
“I’ll tell you exactly what I’m gonna do: I’m gonna go to Paris [in September], I’m gonna be sat front row for Ciryl Gane against Sergey Spivak. I’m gonna beat the winner, and then I’m gonna beat [champion] Jon Jones.”
The result put the crowd back in jubilant spirits, after “Meatball” Molly McCann suffered a submission loss in the co-main event. The Liverpudlian fan favourite tapped to an armbar in her flyweight contest with Julija Stoliarenko, on what was a night of mixed fortunes for British fighters.
Full UFC London Results
| Fighters | Result | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Aspinall | def. Marcin Tybura | TKO (punches) | 1:13 |
| Julija Stoliarenko | def. Molly McCann | Submission (armbar) | 1:55 |
| Nathaniel Wood | def. Andre Fili | Decision (unanimous) | 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 |
| Paul Craig | def. Andre Muniz | TKO (punches and elbows) | 4:40 |
| Fares Ziam | def. Jai Herbert | Decision (unanimous) | 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 |
Notable Performances
Tom Aspinall’s victory over Marcin Tybura marked his triumphant return to the O2 Arena after a year-long recovery from a severe injury. Aspinall showcased his skills by hurting Tybura early with a head kick and finishing the fight with a straight right hand and hammer fists.
In the co-main event, Molly McCann suffered a submission loss to Julija Stoliarenko via an armbar. It was a disappointing night for British fighters with mixed fortunes throughout the event.
Tom Aspinall’s Ambitious Plans
In his post-fight interview, Aspinall expressed his determination to go all the way to the belt. He announced his intention to attend the Ciryl Gane vs. Sergey Spivak fight in Paris in September and then challenge the winner. Aspinall aims to eventually face and defeat current champion Jon Jones.
Conclusion
Tom Aspinall’s triumphant return at UFC London showcased his growth and determination. With a devastating victory over Marcin Tybura, Aspinall proved that he is a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division. Aspinall’s ambitious plans for the future set the stage for exciting matchups and potential title shots.
