UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is preparing for his upcoming title eliminator against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester by embracing his Romani roots.
Aspinall, who hails from the United Kingdom, has been incorporating a peculiar training technique into his regimen – dipping his knuckles in petroleum for 20 minutes every morning as the sun rises. The Brit revealed that he learned this method from a documentary called ‘Knuckle,’ which showcases how the practice of hardening one’s knuckles is a tradition among Romani communities.
“Big Joe Joyce reveals a few Gypsy methods for getting ready for a fight, and I wanted to resort back to a little Gypsy heritage that I got,” Aspinall told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour.
The interim champion believes that this unconventional technique will not only honor his Romani ancestry but also help prepare his hands for the grueling five-round bout against Blaydes, which is scheduled to take place at around 5 a.m. local time.
To further adapt to the unusual fight time, Aspinall has been making adjustments to his training regimen, including setting up a ring of hay bales and shadow boxing in the early morning hours.
“This is followed by dipping his knuckles in petrol for 20 minutes as the sun is coming up,” Aspinall explained.
The fight against Blaydes is a crucial one for Aspinall, as the winner will be guaranteed a shot at the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship. However, Aspinall revealed that the UFC was initially hesitant about booking this matchup, with the promotion preferring to have him face Ciryl Gane instead.
“The UFC didn’t want me to fight Curtis, they wanted me to fight Ciryl and Ciryl didn’t want to,” Aspinall said. “Let’s not act like you wanted to fight me because it isn’t accurate.”
Gane, who recently suffered a loss against Jon Jones, has been accused of ducking fights in the past. Nonetheless, the Frenchman has denied Aspinall’s claims, stating that the Brit only accepts fights when he knows his opponent cannot say yes.
Regardless of the backstory, Aspinall is focused on the task at hand and is determined to honor his Romani heritage by emerging victorious against Blaydes. A win would not only secure his place as the interim heavyweight champion but also position him for a potential showdown against the undisputed champion, Jon Jones, in the near future.
