At UFC 295, Tom Aspinall will attempt to win UFC interim title on just two weeks’ notice, but is the data on his side?
In a sport as poetic as MMA, over the years, we’ve witnessed fighters jump in at the last minute and deliver some of the greatest memories of our lives. Back at UFC 196, Nate Diaz rose to the challenge of facing Conor McGregor and locked in a rear naked choke that changed the landscape of the sport forever. In addition, just three events later, Michael Bisping concluded his Cinderella story, by overcoming fierce rival, Luke Rockhold, in a bout in which few gave him a shot. However, it doesn’t always work out so romantically.
After an incredible war of attrition with Islam Makhachev back in February, Alexander Volkanovski desperately chased his opportunity at redemption. Alas, when it finally came, he had less than a month to prepare and ended up losing the rematch in brutal fashion, thus indicating that competing in a sport as violent as MMA without a full camp is anything but ideal.
As per Casino Alpha in the last decade, only seven of the 18 fighters who’ve challenged for UFC glory on late notice have come away the victor. But while at 39% the odds aren’t on Aspinall’s side, he’s a special athlete, capable of overcoming all the hurdles placed in his way.
Tom Aspinall wants to make a statement at UFC 295
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During his contest with Curtis Blaydes last year, he sustained a knee injury that kept him away from the gym and could’ve mentally broken even the most hardened of men. However, in a testament to his awe-inspiring powers of self-belief, he bounced back against Marcin Tybura, securing a first-round KO to earn his shot at the belt.
Therefore, when he sets foot in the cage, with Sergei Pavlovich, in front of a packed house at the famous Madison Square Garden, in New York, USA, he’ll put everything on the line, in order to make all his years of hard work and sacrifice worthwhile.
Tom Aspinall will look to emulate seven of these contenders
| Winner | Vs | Opponent | Date | Weight | Fighter | W? |
| Islam Makhachev | Vs | Alex Volkanovski | 21st Oct 2023 | 155lbs | Alex Volkanovski | No |
| Jamahal Hill | Vs | Glover Teixeira | 21st Jan 2023 | 205lbs | Jamahal Hill | Yes |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | Vs | Alex Perez | 21st Nov 2020 | 125lbs | Alex Perez | No |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | Vs | Joseph Benavidez | 18th July 2020 | 125lbs | Deiveson Figueiredo | Yes |
| Kamaru Usman | Vs | Jorge Masvidal | 11th July 2020 | 170lbs | Jorge Masvidal | No |
| Justin Gaethje | Vs | Tony Ferguson | 10th May 2020 | 155lbs | Justin Gaethje | Yes |
| Khabib Nurmagomedov | Vs | Al Iaquinta | 7th Apr 2018 | 155lbs | Al Iaquinta | No |
| Yoel Romero | Vs | Luke Rockhold | 10th Feb 2018 | 185lbs | Yoel Romero | Yes |
| Max Holloway | Vs | Jose Aldo | 2nd Dec 2017 | 145lbs | Jose Aldo | No |
| Nicco Montano | Vs | Roxanne Modafferi | 2nd Dec 2017 | 125lbs | Roxanne Modafferi | No |
| Cris Cyborg | Vs | Tonya Evinger | 29th July 2017 | 145lbs | Tonya Evinger | No |
| Michael Bisping | Vs | Luke Rockhold | 4th June 2016 | 185lbs | Michael Bisping | Yes |
| Jon Jones | Vs | Ovince St Preux | 23rd Apr 2016 | 205lbs | Ovince St Preux | No |
| Conor McGregor | Vs | Chad Mendes | 11th July 2015 | 145lbs | Chad Mendes | No |
| Daniel Cormier | Vs | Anthony Johnson | 23rd May 2015 | 205lbs | Daniel Cormier | Yes |
| Fabricio Werdum | Vs | Mark Hunt | 15th Nov 2014 | 265lbs | Mark Hunt | No |
| T.J. Dillashaw | Vs | Joe Soto | 30th Aug 2014 | 135lbs | Joe Soto | No |
| T.J. Dillashaw | Vs | Renan Barao | 24th May 2014 | 135lbs | T.J. Dillashaw | Yes |
Featured Image Credit: UFC
