Back in 2022, Curtis Blaydes scored a victory over Tom Aspinall.
Fast-forward two years later and Aspinall holds the interim UFC heavyweight championship.
Blaydes, meanwhile, moved to 18-4 overall with a second round finish of Jailton Almeida Saturday night at UFC 299. Following the performance, he called out Aspinall for a rematch.
The first meeting between the two ended just 15 seconds after it started in London, England. The planned five-round main event was stopped following a knee injury suffered by Aspinall.
“I believe me and Aspinall got some unfinished business,” Blaydes said. “I’d like to get that one next.”
Blaydes would take on Sergei Pavlovich almost a year later, losing via first round TKO, seeing his three-fight win streak snapped. He became the first fighter to defeat Almeida inside the Octagon, landing with big strikes just seconds into the round.
During his career, Blaydes has been on the cusp of challenging for gold. He won four consecutive fights between 2019-202, including a win over former champ Junior dos Santos. However, that run was halted by a knockout loss to Derrick Lewis.
He also had a four-fight unbeaten run come to an end with a 45-second defeat to former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in 2018.
Curtis Blaydes Vs. Tom Aspinall Makes Sense
In regards to timing and who is available, it would make sense to pair Blaydes and Aspinall up. Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic remain on a collision course, and Blaydes is coming off a big win.
Plus, like the UFC 299 main event, it would give Aspinall the opportunity to prove the loss was a fluke and due to the injury suffered.
As a co-main event to Jones vs. Miocic, the booking would make perfect sense.
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