LONDON – Tom Aspinall says he’s good to go.
The UFC heavyweight contender has revealed that he is now fully recovered from the knee injury he sustained during his last outing. Aspinall (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) had surgery last year after tearing his MCL and meniscus, as well as damaging his ACL, in a TKO loss to Curtis Blaydes in July at UFC Fight Night 208. It was a surprise injury, as the British fighter twisted his knee 15 seconds into the fight.
Now that he is healthy, Aspinall wants to return to the scene of crime and resume his career.
“The knee is good right now,” Aspinall said at Thursday’s Q&A, part of UFC 286 fight week. “I’m back in training. Hey, listen. I just want to correct one thing. We need to save another UK card for this year, and I got a great Polish dummy calling me online. So if Marcin Tybura wants it, let’s bring it back to the UK this summer. Come on, please.
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Before the fatal accident, Aspinall was on a hot streak. He had eight consecutive victories, and five of them were under the UFC banner.
The 29-year-old was close to a shot going into his fight against Curtis Blaydes last summer, and is looking to get back on track. That is why the fight against Marcin Tybura hurts him.
“At the moment, there are not many free boys in the top 10, everyone is matched,” Aspinall explained. As far as I can see, he’s the only guy willing to fight. He said it verbally. And if someone says publicly that they want to fight me, I definitely want to fight. I do not withdraw from anyone. We’re two lads from Europe, let’s do it in the UK”
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Now fully recovered from a knee injury, Tom Aspinall’s eyes for the summer return against the “big Polish dummy” Marcin Tybura.
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The story first appeared on MMA Junkie