Interview, Fireside Chat
Tom Aspinall Opens Up About Brain Damage & His Future In the UFC
- Tom Aspinall anticipates fighting within the next week at an International Fight Week event in Vegas, with a target to fight again in approximately six weeks pending communication from Dana White.
- The fighter aims to compete twice this year, including a potential bout at the end of the year, contingent on remaining uninjured and successfully navigating his immediate upcoming schedule.
- Specific upcoming opponents include Cyril Gane, Jailton Almeida, and a rematch against Alexander Volkov, while a return bout against Curtis Blaydes is desired to resolve unfinished business.
- Aspinall plans to travel to Vegas for International Fight Week to engage in media obligations and work with his new sponsor, Champion, for whom he expects a career-long partnership.
- Retirement is projected for the next couple of years, described as "relatively early" to avoid cognitive issues, with a stated preference to retire slightly too early rather than too late.
- Post-retirement plans involve remaining involved in MMA through punditry, podcasts to educate others, and continuing his own show on TNT Sport, which is currently gaining traction.
- Regarding the heavyweight division, he predicts three to four new contenders will emerge within a year and anticipates the new generation entering as the "old guard" reaches the end of their careers.
- Aspinall notes that Jon Jones is entitled to manage his retirement and career choices freely, including selecting stylistic matchups or opponents past their prime, without holding ill will.
- Concerns exist that Jon Jones may decline a contract against Aspinall due to a lack of extensive video footage of him available for viewing, despite acknowledging Jones's status as one of the best ever.
- He suggests that fighters training for four hours daily should allocate at least half that time to recovery and emphasizes the importance of setting written goals to maintain focus.
- Financial realities in MMA are highlighted by the expectation that 95% of fighters never earn more than $5,000 per fight, with the vast majority of local show participants unable to afford a home through the sport alone.
- A backup career plan is deemed necessary for aspiring fighters due to the difficulty of generating income, while success is attributed to the ability to be obsessively focused and consistently outlast opponents.
- Aspinall intends to train constantly regardless of an upcoming fight, adjusting only the session intensity, and expresses a desire to fight at The O2 Arena again to complete specific objectives.
- He expects to keep his current job, which prevents him from confirming specific future fight dates until they are officially booked.