Much is happening at the top of the UFC’s heavyweight class. One thing remains clear – Tom Aspinall is the one to look out for. With the biggest names absent and creating a logjam up to the belt, the Brit has proved himself. With an interim maiden defense in the books, Aspinall is now the biggest threat there is. He is proving just how good he is, thrashing heads with rugby flame Ugo Monye.
Now, it is a given that people outside of MMA would not be proficient at grappling. But those from fields like soccer and rugby are natural genetic beasts. Former rugby celeb and broadcaster Monye proved to be quite that. He shot for a single-leg takedown early on and scrapped hard. He even almost swiveled a casual Aspinall. The champ would later do a judo takedown and mount the Islington, London native.
Although lighthearted, it showcased quite a performance from Monye. Aspinall’s Fight Lab: #UFC305 edition, with Ugo Monye & Adam Catterall on TNT Sports happened this Sunday. The event saw Aspinall break down this weekend’s card and even call for a to-be-42 Stipe Miocic to be booted from the HW competition. The grappling session was right in between those, where Ugo Monye performed in the bit-by-bit direction from Aspinall.
Aspinall defended his interim gold last month in the co-main event of UFC 304. He racked up a maiden defense in a 60-second TKO of top contender Curtis Blaydes at the top bill. The 31-year-old entails a new breed of 265lber powerhouse who are light on their feet as well. Despite not boasting much fleshed-out cage time, Aspinall is a top crop. Subsequently, he has had rugby backing before as well.
Has Tom Aspinall ever played rugby?
Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is fresh off a defense and without an opponent. With champion Jon Jones fighting Miocic, Aspinall is waiting for his opportunity. In recent history ‘Bones’ has had a long social media scuffle with him, snubbing him from a title unification.
Concurrently, this isn’t the first time Aspinall has run through the roster quickly enough and is sidelined if no more top guys are willing to face him. The same happened when he went on from his training at Leigh Self Defence Studio to Cage Warriors. Right now, there are but few all-around fighters like Aspinall who are pronounced strikers and know grappling.
The Englishman trained in Catch wrestling and boxing before winning the British Open in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in all belt classes except black belt early on. A prime factor that helped was his sprouting from 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) to 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) at teenage. Part of this was with him playing league rugby with names like Wigan and Salford coaching (Salford Red Devils).
Leigh star and Wigan academy player Jamie Acton was even part of his camp before winning the interim belt at UFC 295. In a segment with MMA on Point’s own Petesy Carroll, Aspinall even mentioned that while he never played Union, he was good at it. While huddling during one of his matches, he knocked out a clingy teammate with just a slap and found out the extent of his power! As such, the rest is history.
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