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Tom Aspinall is gearing up for a historic moment in UK MMA.
The British fighter will be vying to become only the third Brit to win a UFC title this weekend. He is set to compete in the main event of UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Standing between Aspinall and the title
Aspinall's path to victory is obstructed by Sergei Pavlovich, a formidable opponent in the heavyweight division.
The 30-year-old Aspinall faces a challenging task as he aims to secure the interim heavyweight title and set himself up for a future showdown with the undisputed champion, Jon Jones, or Stipe Miocic.
A knockout machine
Pavlovich, 31, has a reputation as a knockout artist, having dispatched his last six opponents in the first round.
Adding to the difficulty of the task at hand, Aspinall has had only two weeks to prepare for this momentous opportunity.
Embracing the challenge
Despite the obstacles, Aspinall is relishing the challenge that lies ahead. He had the chance to size up his opponent during a staredown at the pre-fight press conference.
The atmosphere was tense, but the fighters maintained a cordial demeanor before shaking hands.
A golden opportunity
Aspinall's shot at UFC glory came about due to an injury to former pound-for-pound king Jon Jones. The call for this potentially life-changing fight came just one day before Aspinall was supposed to jet off on a lads' holiday.
Reflecting on the moment he received the call, Aspinall said, "I got the call early in the morning, so I was sleeping... I saw the person's name and then it went off... I thought, 'Right, I'm just going to go back to sleep,' and then obviously my mind starts going and as soon as my mind started going, I was like, 'Someone's pulling out of New York here.'"
Despite the disruption to his plans, Aspinall eagerly accepted the offer and is ready to seize this incredible opportunity.
