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It’s been a couple of months, but Curtis Blaydes finally got the answer he was hoping for. Blaydes (18-4), who secured a second-round TKO victory over Jailton Almeida at UFC 299 in Miami, will get his rematch with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall (14-3).
UFC CEO Dana White announced Thursday that Blaydes will face Aspinall at UFC 304, scheduled for July 27 in Manchester, England. This highly anticipated bout will serve as the co-main event on a card broadcast on pay-per-view, ESPN, and ESPN+.
Blaydes and Aspinall first met in July 2022 in London. Unfortunately, the fight ended abruptly just 15 seconds in when Aspinall suffered a devastating knee injury, giving Blaydes a TKO victory without landing a single strike. After a year-long recovery, Aspinall made a triumphant return, defeating Marcin Tybura in just 73 seconds. He then captured the interim heavyweight title by stopping Sergei Pavlovich in 69 seconds this past November.
After his win over Almeida, Blaydes made it clear that he wasn’t interested in fighting someone like Ciryl Gane next. Instead, he had his sights set on Aspinall and a shot at the interim heavyweight title. His persistence has paid off, and the stage is now set for an explosive rematch.
The winner of Blaydes vs. Aspinall will likely face the victor of the upcoming heavyweight championship bout between Jon Jones and former champ Stipe Miocic. However, there is speculation that the winner of Jones vs. Miocic could retire after their fight, adding another layer of intrigue to the heavyweight division's future.
Blaydes' determination and Aspinall's quick resurgence promise a thrilling showdown at UFC 304. The fight fans have eagerly awaited this rematch, and the outcome will significantly shape the heavyweight title picture moving forward. Aspinall will look to prove his previous injury was a fluke, while Blaydes aims to cement his claim to the heavyweight throne.
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