What happened the first time Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes fought?

What happened the first time Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes fought?

As a devoted fan of mixed martial arts and specifically the UFC, I am thrilled to witness the return of the UFC to Manchester, England for UFC 304 on July 27. The co-main event of this card is undeniably one of the most anticipated fights, with Tom Aspinall defending his interim heavyweight title against Curtis Blaydes. I remember their first encounter at UFC London in July 2022, a highly touted main event that promised fireworks between two contenders showing championship potential.


On July 27, the UFC is coming back to Manchester, England for the first time since October 2016 to stage UFC 304. The highly anticipated co-main event at this event will see Tom Aspinall protecting his interim heavyweight crown against No. 4 ranked Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall is set to make his initial title defense in Manchester, aiming to redeem himself for a significant career defeat.

At UFC London in July 2022, Aspinall and Blaydes faced off in the main event after impressive victories over strong opponents. Their previous wins, with Aspinall submitting Volkov via armbar in March and Blaydes knocking out Daukas in the second round, highlighted their championship caliber performances and promised an exciting matchup.

At the start of the match, Aspinall put pressure on Blaydes as he threw punches from a distance. However, most of Blaydes’ blows missed their mark, while Aspinall successfully landed a strong calf kick. Unfortunately, during this exchange, Aspinall sustained an injury when he kicked Blaydes with significant force. His leg buckled unexpectedly and his right knee collapsed, forcing him to withdraw from the fight. Blaydes was then declared the victor via technical knockout (TKO), as Aspinall could no longer continue within the 15-second duration of the bout. In his post-fight interview, Blaydes expressed remorse over winning in such an unideal manner and shared his desire to display his abilities to the audience in a more meaningful way.

Watch Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes 1 ahead of their UFC 304 rematch

The upcoming clash between Aspinall and Blaydes is an engaging contest given their impressive fighting abilities. Each athlete exhibits a remarkable blend of striking power and elite wrestling skills. Their grappling techniques could lead to an enthralling battle; Aspinall boasts proficiency in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, while Blaydes excels at maintaining top control and delivering ground strikes.

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2024-07-22 22:13

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