Tom Aspinall’s training partner beat Jon Jones’ teammate with a broken leg two years before UFC Paris debut

Ante Delija beat Jon Jones’ teammate despite fighting with a leg break for 11 minutes

Delija, who had previously fought under the notable banners of M-1 Global, Rizin, and KSW, beat Matheus Scheffel, Shelton Graves, Renan Ferreira, and Scheffel again consecutively in 2022 to win that year’s PFL heavyweight season.

He returned in 2023 looking to go back-to-back and was first matched up against Maurice Greene during the regular season. The American was part of Jones’ very first heavyweight camp for UFC 285, which saw the Rochester native win the title three months before Greene fought Delija at PFL 5.

In a clash of teammates that came a few years prior to the heavyweight saga between Jones and Aspinall, it was Delija who emerged victorious on the scorecards, and he did so despite suffering a serious injury in round one that ruled him out for the remainder of the year.

“When I fought last time with Maurice Greene, I broke my leg and (tore) two muscles,” Delija revealed during media day prior to his 2024 return.

“(It happened) in the first minute of the fight.”

Greene still trains with the UFC GOAT contender, having appeared in a video of Jones returning to training after his MMA retirement, which was short-lived.

Ante Delija will debut against opponent Tom Aspinall tore through in 73 seconds

Delija’s debut at UFC Paris will come against an opponent whom both he and Aspinall are very familiar with.

For the Croatian heavyweight, Saturday’s bout against Marcin Tybura will be a rematch. The pair first fought a decade ago at M-1 Challenge 61, where Delija was unable to continue through another leg injury, granting Tybura the win via TKO and the promotion’s heavyweight title in the process.

The reigning UFC heavyweight champion, meanwhile, returned from a serious injury with an emphatic performance against the Polish veteran in the summer of 2023. Aspinall knocked out Tybura in just 73 seconds at UFC London to set up an interim title shot against Sergei Pavlovich.

With Aspinall and Delija being regular sparring partners, the Briton has no doubt aided in the UFC newcomer’s preparation against their shared opponent.