UFC star Tom Aspinall admits it’s become ‘political’ at the top of the heavyweight division, as he prepares to defend the interim belt at UFC 304… and reveals struggles of dealing with the early start time in Manchester

Tom Aspinall is not one to wait. The UFC interim heavyweight champion is eager to return to the octagon and maintain his momentum at the top.

That’s exactly what he’ll do at UFC 304 on July 27 in Manchester, where he’ll defend his title in a highly anticipated rematch against American Curtis Blaydes.

The co-main event fight will be Aspinall’s first return to the octagon since claiming the interim title with an emphatic knockout win against Sergei Pavlovich last November.

Aspinall’s recent stoppage may raise an eyebrow among some fans, but the heavyweight division operates on its own timetable.

Ahead of the filming of TNT Sports’ show Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab, he explains to Mail Sport: ‘Six, seven months. When you’re at the top of the division, especially at heavyweight, things move a lot slower.

It will be Aspinall’s first return to the Octagon since defeating Sergei Pavlovich in November

‘When you are up and coming, you fight much more regularly. Three or four times a year, but at the top it gets a little more political. So it’s to be expected.’

The 31-year-old has been campaigning to unify the heavyweight title since beating Pavlovich, but that goal was delayed by reigning champion Jon Jones.

The 36-year-old suffered a torn pectoral while training for the fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 and has since claimed he will honor that fight before any bout with Aspinall.

But Aspinall, who previously claimed one of his rivals is ‘holding it together’ in the heavyweight division, insists his patience has not hampered his development.

‘I knew they were thinking about going back to Britain. And then I started hearing about Manchester. It’s no drama for me, I’ve improved a lot in the time between fights.

The upcoming fight in Manchester has special meaning for Aspinall, who grew up in Salford and took up martial arts at the Leigh Self Defense Studio.

“I expect it to be pretty wild,” he says with obvious confidence. ‘I fought at home, I fought. I’ve been the underdog, I’ve been the favorite. I’ve fought champions. For example, I have done a lot in my short career.

Aspinall has been patiently waiting for his shot at the heavyweight title against Jon Jones

Jones’ dismissal sees Aspinall admit he feels he is fighting for the ‘real title’ against Blaydes

‘I’m no longer afraid that I’ll be overwhelmed by something or someone. I know I can do it and all I can do is go out there and build the best version of myself.”

However, a unique challenge has emerged for fighters and fans alike. The main card kicks off at 3am BST, with Aspinall likely to make his walk to the octagon two hours later.

“In my personal opinion it’s worse for the fans than it is for the fighters, the British fans,” Aspinall admits.

‘For the people who want to watch the event live, it is even worse. And as a fighter, we haven’t figured out yet as a team what we’re going to do in terms of training, sleep patterns and the like.

Fellow British star Leon Edwards will also be in action that evening against Belal Muhammad

‘Of course you want to be 100 percent ready when you go into it, so some things will have to be adjusted and adjusted. But what does that look like right now? I don’t know, we’re still figuring it out.’

‘I’m going to talk to some people. Me and Michael Bisping are friends, so I’d probably ask him.

“My coach recently said something to me about training with Leon Edwards, so I might ask Leon too. We’re going to find out.”

The true meaning of this fight lies beyond the interim title. Aspinall considers this a “real title defense” and a stepping stone to his ultimate goal.

“This is a real title defense,” he declares. ‘For me it’s another fight, a tough fight. I don’t shy away from tough fights.

The British star insisted his next fight had to be for the undisputed title no matter what

“I’ve openly said many times that I think Curtis Blaydes is one of the toughest fights in the division for me, if not the toughest stylistically.

“I don’t really care who it is, but my next fight has to be for the undisputed title. I won’t defend the interim forever.

“This is, I think, for the real title. A lot of people see that Jon Jones has a bit of a title shot. So I’m treating it like a real title defense.

“But again, the next fight has to be for the undisputed title. There should not be two champions in any weight class.”

Watch Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab on TNT Sports and Discovery+ on Sunday from 9:45 PM. For more information, visit tntsports.com