TOM ASPINALL is days away from potentially creating UK MMA history.
The burly Brit will bid to become only the third Brit to win a UFC title early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 295 in Madison Square Garden in New York.
GETTYTom Aspinall will bid to become Britain’s third UFC champion this weekend against Sergei Pavlovich[/caption]
CHISANGA MALATAWigan warrior Aspinall faced off with Pavlovich for the first time on Thursday[/caption]
Standing between the Wigan warrior and the interim heavyweight title is dangerous Sergei Pavlovich.
Aspinall, 30, faces a tall order to get his hands on the interim strap and secure a future showdown against the winner of undisputed champion Jon Jones‘ rescheduled showdown with Stipe Miocic.
Russian wrecking machine Pavlovich, 31, has knocked out his last SIX opponents in double quick time – taking them out in the first round.
Add to that the fact Aspinall has only had TWO WEEKS to prepare for his first crack at UFC gold and he has an almighty mountain to climb at MSG.
But he’s relishing the challenge ahead of him – which he got to size up in person at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.
Both men took part in a cordial but heated staredown in the shadows of MSG.
A handshake proceeded the staredown, which they ended
Aspinall’s shot at UFC glory came as a result of injury to former pound-for-pound king Jones – who stored his pec last month and will be out for eight months.
And he got the call for the potentially life-changing fight one day before he was set to jet off on a lads’ holiday.
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CHISANGA MALATATom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich were all smiles after their fiery face-off[/caption]
He told TNT Sports: “Do you know what? I got the call early in the morning, so I was sleeping.
“And it was off someone really high up in the UFC, not Dana White but someone really high up, who’s never called me before.
“And I could hear my phone vibrating on the side of me like this and I was like, ‘That’s weird someone ringing me at that time.’
“So I picked it up and as I picked it up I saw the person’s name and then it went off, you know like it stopped ringing.
“I thought, ‘Right, I’m just going to go back to sleep it’s 6am, I’ve got a few hours.’
“And then obviously my mine starts going and as soon as my mind started going, I was like, ‘Someone’s pulling out of New York here.’
“I just knew it straight away. So I rung him back and he said, ‘Listen, I’m not going to tell you what’s happened because it’s not for sure yet. I’m going to let you know in the next 24 hours.’
“And I was supposed to be going on holiday the next day.
“So I said, ‘Listen, you’re going to have to let me know because I’m going on holiday. I’m going away tomorrow!’
“Anyway he rung me back at 4am the following night and he told me what’s going on.
“He said, ‘Jon Jones is injured, Stipe doesn’t want to fight anybody else bar Jon Jones so you and Big Pavers on MSG.’ and I said, ‘I’m in.’”