Tom Aspinall says his first UFC main event couldn’t have gone any better.
Aspinall headlined UFC London against Alexander Volkov and the Brit got the first-round submission to pick up the biggest win of his career. It’s likely he will be in the top-five at heavyweight now and given he was able to finish a very durable Volkov, he’s pleased with his performance.
“It couldn’t have gone any better,” Aspinall said after UFC London. “That was the ideal performance. I truly thought I was gonna go five rounds. To get a guy like Volkov — who has been finished twice [in the UFC] — out of there in the first round, just shows credit to my finishing ability. My finishing ability is highest of the high level.
“[It was] everything I dreamed of and more,” Aspinall said. “Unbelievable. I see a lot of media and s*** like that, ‘Oh, he’s gonna feel the pressure when he fights in front of a crowd. Oh, he’s gonna feel the pressure with Volkov who is a veteran.’ Other people might feel the pressure. Other people are not me. I’m different.”
After the win, Tom Aspinall called out Tai Tuivasa which would be a very intriguing matchup. It also could be an interim heavyweight title fight, but after his win over Volkov, that is the fight he wants.
“Big fan of Tai. Big shout out to Tai,” Aspinall said. “The reason why I called out Tai is, first of all, I’m a massive fan of his style. Second of all, massive fan of his personality. And the crowd goes wild when he fights, and apparently, the crowd goes wild when I fight. So me and him in the U.K.? Come on, bro! What a good time that would be. Let’s line it up. Next U.K. card, get me and Tai on it. I’m a shoey virgin at the moment, but if Tai wants to do one, I will. Big shout-out to Tai for doing his thing.”
Tom Aspinall is now 12-2 as a pro and on an eight-fight win streak and is 5-0 in the UFC.