ATHERTON'S Tom Aspinall showed why he is regarded as one of the best fighters in the world after his one minute battle with Curtis Blaydes.
With Aspinall previously beaten by Curtis Blaydes as he suffered a serious knee injury during the fight, the Atherton heavyweight won with a first round knockout in last night's rematch.
Taking place at Manchester's Co-Op Arena, Aspinall knocked Blaydes to the ground with a huge right hand, before finishing him off with a series of blows to the head.
After retaining the interim title that he won in November, the 31-year-old called out the current champion Jon Jones, who has been sidelined with a pectoral injury since his last fight in March 2023.
Asking the Manchester crowd 'Who wants to see Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones?', Aspinall looked directly into the camera and said: "Hello Jon, I have nothing against you personally, but I just think I'm better than you, and I know I can beat you in a fight."
Speaking before the fight, Aspinall - who recently had a mural completed in his Atherton hometown - said that he wants to become the "best heavyweight ever".
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The fighter who Aspinall has his eyes on, 37-year-old Jon Jones, is scheduled to fight Stipe Miocic after this heavyweight defence was previously postponed.
It is expected that this fight will take place later this year, with the winner set to fight Aspinall to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion.
Meanwhile, also fighting at UFC 304 in Manchester, Liverpudlian Paddy Pimblett beat Bobby Green in the first round of the lightweight division.
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