Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is one of many MMA fans who are boarding the hype train for the UFC’s latest British superstar.
As rumors take shape surrounding Tom Aspinall’s return to the UFC and the promotion eyes a Manchester PPV, the heavyweight superstar was recently asked who he thinks is ‘destined for greatness’ – and it’s hard to argue with his pick.
The future of British Mixed Martial Arts is brighter than ever
We’re undoubtedly in the ‘golden era’ of British mixed martial arts with Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall leading the charge as champions, with UK-based top contenders also scattered throughout the different weight divisions.
One British superstar who particularly impressed fans and pundits alike with his most recent performance inside the UFC octagon is none other than Michael ‘Venom’ Page – who has just gotten a major endorsement from the interim heavyweight champ.
Aspinall believes MVP is destined to become a global superstar
During a recent Q&A on his official YouTube channel, Aspinall was asked if there was someone who he had trained with that he thought could be ‘destined for greatness’, either inside the UFC or in another promotion.
Given his UFC 299 over Kevin Holland showcase, the interim heavyweight champion unsurprisingly named Michael ‘Venom’ Page as his one-to-watch:
“MVP is very good, I trained with him recently, but I think especially after he’s just made his debut now in the UFC, to come in and beat Kevin Holland who’s someone in the top 15 ranked on your debut – he looked so impressive.”
“I think that he’s definitely special,” said Aspinall, who hailed Page as “not just a special athlete, but he’s a special human being too.”
“He’s definitely going to be a superstar in the sport, that’s for sure.”
Watch the pair train together before MVP’s impressive UFC debut
Before his UFC debut against Kevin Holland, MVP also traveled to Aspinall’s gym to train with the interim heavyweight champion with the footage mainly showing the pair practicing their grappling skills.
Yet Aspinall was also interested in picking MVP’s brains about both entering the UFC and his experience in bare-knuckle boxing.
Page, who arrived from Bellator, argued that the anticipation was the same during this fight camp as any other, noting how “unintentionally, people like to put weight on your shoulders” despite him having 23 professional bouts prior to UFC 299.
On the bare-knuckle boxing, MVP said that it was all about rising to the challenge since “everything is damaging and everything is effective” in the pursuit of finding “your perfect self.”
To his credit, Aspinall didn’t disregard such a brutal challenge, teasing that “I think before I retire, would I like to do it – I still don’t know.”
“Maybe one just before I retire, just to see what it’s like but you’re a braver man than me, mate.”