Tom Aspinall has become the new UFC interim heavyweight champion courtesy of a stunning 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich.
The Englishman went into what he admitted was a daunting showdown with one of the sport's biggest punchers on just 17 days notice after Jon Jones was forced to withdraw from the card through injury.
However, after a year on the sidelines with a knee injury and just one 73-second outing since, the 30-year-old chose to roll the dice.
Within a minute of the showdown at Madison Square Garden, Aspinall showed that it was an inspired choice, evading Pavlovich's early efforts before landing a one-two that changed his life.
A dazed Pavlovich stayed on his feet before being floored by a similar combination, with the referee waving off the fight once had Aspinall landed with three unanswered forearm strikes on the mat.
For the sixth time in eight fights, Aspinall landed the performance of the night, this time at UFC 295, with his debut on one of the organisation's numbered events.
TOM ASPINALL KNOCKED OUT SERGEI PAVLOVICH TO BECOME THE NEW INTERIM UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!!! 🇬🇧 🏆#UFC295 pic.twitter.com/ZxfTwbf3gp
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) November 12, 2023
After the bout, Aspinall said: "He's a scary guy. I've never been so scared in my life but I have power too and I believed in myself.
"I've worked so hard over the years and no one has worked harder than my father so this belt is dedicated to him. I was struggling with the distance a little bit but we got there in the end."
Aspinall's next fight is currently unclear, but it is likely to be against the recognised champion Jones, depending on his injury recovery, Ciryl Gane or Stipe Miocic.
