Tom Aspinall has used his experience of sharing the cage with Sean Strickland inside the gym, to make an interesting prediction for his fight with Dricus Du Plessis.
After the South African walked away with the crown via split decision the first time, the fierce rivals met, later tonight, the icons will run it back at UFC 312, inside the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
And with the opportunity at redemption dangling in front of the American, the reigning UFC interim heavyweight title-holder is adamant he’s going to go all out to get the win.
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Tom Aspinall says Sean Strickland wants a war with Dricus Du Plessis
While Tom Aspinall has developed a reputation for rendering his opponents unconscious with his fearsome strikes, he’s much more than a mere brawler.
For years, the dedicated competitor has evolved his skills in every area of the sport, becoming a complete mixed martial artist.
With that in mind, he’s the perfect man to break down tonight’s contest, especially considering he’s sparred the challenger.
Having seen what he’s all about, Aspinall, thinks Sean Strickland, who once battered a navy seal inside the gym, is going to go for Dricus Du Plessis with all he’s got.
In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, the power puncher explained: “The first fight, there wasn’t much in it; both guys have admitted that they didn’t go all out. The second one is going to be interesting.
“Both guys have got a feel of each other. Both guys have spent 25 minutes in the octagon with one another.
“Dricus, in my opinion, when you get that belt around your waist, you get 30% better straight away. Now, Strickland, doesn’t care. That guy is not bothered about who’s got the belt and who hasn’t. He’s going to come straight at him.
“I’ve sparred with Strickland myself, and I’ve seen exactly what he’s like in the gym. He’s going to come straight at Dricus. And he doesn’t care about the first fight; he wants revenge. He wants it back, and he’s coming for that belt on Saturday night.
“I think it’s a 50/50 fight. This is why we love MMA, because we don’t know who is going to win.”
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Tom Aspinall explains why he’d refuse to spar Francis Ngannou
While Aspinall was more than happy to trade leather with Strickland inside the confines of the gym, he wouldn’t be willing to do the same with Francis Ngannou.
Both the Englishman and the Cameroonian have proved themselves as two of the most ferocious fighters in MMA history.
With that in mind, the idea of the pair clashing inside the cage is the stuff dreams are made of.
However, it won’t happen unless it’s signed on the dotted line, with Aspinall explaining why he wouldn’t spar Ngannou.