Tom Aspinall reacts to fighting Sergei Pavlovich for interim heavyweight title

The news broke late Tuesday evening that Jon Jones was injured and out of his UFC 295 bout with Stipe Miocic.  It was also announced that Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich would fight for the interim heavyweight title.  

“I’m going to train three times a day now,” Aspinall told The MacLife.  “I got (the fight with Pavlovich) confirmed about three hours ago.  It’s now like 7 am UK time.  I found out at like 4 am.  I got the ol’ middle of the night phone call.”

Aspinall knew when the phone rang at that hour from ‘one of the highest up people in the UFC’ that he was going to be offered a fight.  

“He called me and I was like, ‘what’s going on?’  He called and said, ‘are you healthy?’  That’s the first thing he asked.  He was like, ‘are you healthy?’  I’m like, ‘yeah, I’m healthy.  Why?  What’s going on?’  He said, ‘listen.  There’s some crazy sh*t going on with this New York card.  Are you ready to fight in like two weeks,’ and I said, ‘I can be.  If you want me to be ready I’ll be ready in two weeks.’  He said, ‘well, I’ll just have to let you know tomorrow.’  So, obviously I was waiting.”

Aspinall wasn’t surprised to be offered to fight Pavlovich instead of Miocic or Jones.  

“Pavlovich is the most dangerous to be honest,” Aspinall said.  “He’s the most dangerous guy in the UFC.  To be honest, it’s f**king the most dangerous situation to have, fighting the most dangerous guy in the UFC on two weeks notice, but I’m willing to put it all on the line.  This is my absolute dream.  I’m doing a Bisping aren’t I?  Bisping took it on two weeks notice.  Bisping did it on two weeks notice and beat Rockhold, so why can’t I do it?”

Aspinall is coming to win

Apspinall is not coming off the couch.  He’s been training and believes that he’s in pretty good shape.    

“I’ve been at the gym.  I’m a dedicated guy.  I’m in the gym anyway.  I would have liked longer than two weeks but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.  I’ll be ready.  No excuse there.  I’ll be ready to go, and I’m coming to win.  I’m not coming to make excuses.  The narrative of this fight isn’t going to be I’ve taken the fight on two weeks notice.  I’m f**king coming to win.”