Aspinall stops Pavlovich to win UFC interim heavyweight title،
NEW YORK — Tom Aspinall says his destiny is to win the UFC heavyweight championship at Madison Square Garden. It’s hard to argue with that after what happened at UFC 295.
Aspinall (14-3) won the UFC interim heavyweight title in emphatic fashion Saturday night, knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at 1:09 of the first round with a pair of right hands. Aspinall took the fight on short notice, after heavyweight champion Jon Jones was forced to withdraw from his scheduled fight against Stipe Miocic.
“It’s been a crazy 2.5 weeks,” Aspinall said. “I just want to say to everyone at home, if you ever have the opportunity to do something and you’re afraid to do it, you should do it, because there’s a chance it will pay off. “
Aspinall, of England, has been touted as a potential heavyweight champion for years, but Saturday seemed an uphill task, arriving on short notice. Pavlovich (18-2) had knocked out six opponents in a row in the first round. He was not scheduled to fight at UFC 295, but had been training as an official replacement for the heavyweight title fight. The UFC hopes to rebook the title fight between Jones and Miocic in 2024, which is why it sought Aspinall as a last-minute opponent for Pavlovich.
“He’s a big, scary guy,” Aspinall said. “I’ve never been so scared in my life, but I believed in myself. I really believed in myself.”
Aspinall dedicated the victory to his father, Andy, who oversaw his entire career. Aspinall has been virtually unbeatable in the UFC. His only loss came 15 seconds into a main event bout against Curtis Blaydes in 2022, when he injured his knee on one of the first kick attempts he threw. Aspinall later revealed that he had suffered from knee problems for years and had undergone surgery later that year.
Pavlovich, from Moscow, landed a few shots early that seemed to really catch Aspinall’s attention. Aspinall started with leg kicks, but paid the price in an exchange for leaving his head still. He survived the shots, however, and landed a stinging right hand of his own moments later. The first knocked Pavlovich across the temple, and the second definitely knocked him down.
Miocic was present for the interim title fight. Jones suffered a torn pectoral tendon while training for this fight. No expected time frame for rebooking has been announced.
