Tom Aspinall was star-struck by Georges St-Pierre, idolised Mike Tyson and went on two-day drinking bender after last UFC London win

Tom Aspinall is back in action and will headline his second successive UK-based UFC show this weekend.

UFC London gets a second outing this year with the mixed martial arts juggernaut arriving at The O2 on Saturday night after the wildly successful first instalment in March.

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Aspinall was a central part of what UFC boss Dana White is calling a golden age for British MMA.

The Brit currently ranks sixth overall after defeating Alexander Volkov last time out and now he takes on number-four ranked Curtis Blaydes.

After his big victory in March, Aspinall told talkSPORT he didn’t sleep for two days as he was on a celebratory drinking bender.

“I spoke to Dana,” Aspinall started. “I think it was pretty undeniable that he had to come back. The UFC needed to come back with an atmosphere like that.

“I celebrated by being awake for two days [laughs]. There was no way I could have slept. I just accepted the fact I couldn’t sleep and I just drank the whole time. We had a great time afterwards.”

Aspinall was 5ft 9in at 17, but now at 29, he’s a 6ft 5in finishing machine. He’s 12-2, but he’s never taken a fight to the decision with nine knockouts and three submission wins to his name.

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Growing up, Aspinall idolised Mike Tyson and had admiration for many boxing greats.

“I loved Mike Tyson – he was the man – Muhammad Ali and all those sorts – who didn’t?

“Obviously Tyson Fury, people like that are all greats that I enjoyed watching. Naseem Hamed as well – got to give him one. He’s one of my favourite boxers of all-time.”

Aspinall is a legitimate title hope for the UK and despite rising to stardom in the UFC, he was starstruck when he met a true UFC legend earlier this year.

“I met GSP recently. That was wild, I was mad starstruck,” Aspinall added with a big smile. 

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“He approached me and that was wild. I’ve been starstruck many times over the years, but the weirdest thing is when people I’m starstruck by know who I am. That’s really weird. GSP is not maybe the GOAT in UFC, he is the GOAT.”

Aspinall doesn’t have a linear story in combat sports. He has trained and dabbled in boxing, so much so that he’s been a training partner for fellow north west resident Tyson Fury.

According to the heavyweight, working with Fury helped get him to the next level.

“I’d probably say Tyson Fury [is the best he’s seen in the gym]. His attitude, mainly. He has fun in the gym. 

“They’ll be guys in sparring trying to take him out and he used to just be laughing and joking during that. I’ve seen plenty guys work hard in the gym, but he had fun with it. 

“His whole family are like that. His dad John, his uncle Peter, his cousin Hughie, they all had the same mentality. 

“It rubbed off on me. I think that’s when you saw the biggest change in me; when I stopped taking it so serious and started enjoying it,” said Aspinall.

He is a classy striker, but he says Israel Adesanya is the best in the business today.

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The last Stylebender has come under criticism recently for simply scoring his way to victory and not entertaining the fans, but Aspinall says the Nigerian-born Kiwi is sensational to watch.

“In my opinion he’s an amazing striker. I watch that guy strike all the time. I like technique. 

“Don’t get me wrong, I like watching a brawl, I like watching two guys with no technique swinging it out like everyone else, but I like watching someone hit and not be hit and he’s amazing at that. I like watching him.”

But this weekend all eyes will be on Aspinall where another win is likely to see fans party like it’s… March 2022 all over again.