Nothing Like A Cup Of Tea And A Good Fight: UFC London
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If the title doesn’t say it all, I don’t know what will. As a UFC fan, nothing is more exciting than a good fight. Thankfully this week the UFC will provide us with several to sink our teeth into, and plenty of fan favorites to root for– or against if that’s your thing
Although the event has plenty of wonderful fights to discuss, I believe that it is only fitting that we focus our article on the grand closure to the event. The matchmakers have certainly put on what I think will be a spectacle to watch; and not only that but a very important match for the division, I might add.
Curtis “Razor” Blaydes has been a solid contender in the division for several years. Though he had become more famous for his TKO losses to the current Heavyweight champion, he has had much more telling fights, such as his win against Alistair Overeem, Junior Dos Santos, and Chris Daukaus.
His striking has vastly improved since his younger years with the organization. Primarily a wrestler, it has been interesting to see how he mixes the takedown threat with growing stand-up potential.
One of his main weaknesses would definitely be his cardio. Despite being an NCJAA wrestler with a 95-18 record, his ability to continue his pace is average at best. However, we also have to account for not only his size, but also the size of his opponents.
Another weakness that Curtis tends to have is that his entries for his wrestling can be very readable or basic. His actual grappling is quite good, but there are times where he does not set up his takedowns well at all. This is what lead to his devastating knockout loss at the hands of Derrick Lewis.
However, what he makes up for in cardio, he makes up for in heart.
Tom Aspinall is a dangerous competitor in his own right, however.
At only 29 years old, he already holds wins over Alexander Volkov, Andre Arlovski, and Sergey Spivak. On top of these wins, every single one of his wins have come by way of finish.
Despite his size, Aspinall displays great hand speed and a great tactical approach to his fights. He’s able to pressure in a smart manner, and is very much not afraid to use his jab. On top of that, he changes levels and feints to set up shots.
But his striking is not the only thing impressive about Tom Aspinall. In his fight with Sergey Spivak, not only was he able to deny Spivak’s strong clinch attempts, but he was able to time a knee and elbow to finish him off.
His wrestling is not subpar either. Though he doesn’t shoot often, he has landed both attempts, which were power doubles by the way, in the octagon.
To complement his wrestling is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Though not as tested as Aleksei Oleinik, his submission skills still remain impressive for the divsion.
The only question to ask about Tom Aspinall is… what is his cardio like? Like Chimaev before the Gilbert Burns fight, he is ultimately untested. We know he is capable of two, possibly three rounds but will he be able to handle a possibly full twenty five minutes of grappling and striking?
Truth be told, this is the most excited I have been for a heavyweight fight since they announced Lewis and Tuivasa.
The two blends of styles match up perfectly, and if both men show up, this is bound to be a great match.
Has Blaydes improved enough to hold his own on the feet? Will a strong wrestler like Blaydes be able to hold and keep Aspinall down?
Is Aspinall’s skillset too much for Blaydes?
And finally, will a win over each other be enough to bring both men into the next title picture?
Let me know!
