Curtis Blaydes and Tom Aspinall aren’t thrilled about the time their Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim Heavyweight title fight rematch takes place next weekend (Sat., July 27, 2024).
UFC 304 features two title fights. The first will happen in the co-main event when the current interim Heavyweight titlist, Aspinall, looks to score revenge against his lone UFC successor, Blaydes. Aspinall lost their initial encounter via a 15-second technical knockout when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in July 2022 (watch highlights).
The pair’s first fight also took place in England, headlining that year’s London event. However, by the time they made the walk, it wasn’t 4:00 A.M.
“The biggest difference is it’s gonna be like 4 a.m., and that’s what doesn’t really feel like a real title fight,” Blaydes said in a UFC Denver media scrum (h/t Fansided). “You wouldn’t have [Conor] McGregor fight at 4 a.m. regardless of where it is in the world. That makes it feel a little less, but I don’t care. I’m getting the title fight purse money. That’s all that matters.
He carried on, stating that if he finds himself exhausted just five minutes before his name is announced, he takes full responsibility. In his opinion, if one cannot summon the energy and motivation for a championship bout, then they are simply unworthy of it. This, according to him, is how he prepares himself mentally.
The winner of the rematch is hoping to be next for the undisputed champion, Jon Jones, considering the interim crown will be on the line. However, Jones and former two-time champion, Stipe Miocic, are expected to collide before the end of 2024. Therefore, leaving the winner of that fight’s future up in the air.
