Tom Aspinall

Thomas Paul Aspinall is an English mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division of the UFC.

Born in Salford and raised in the Manchester area of England, Aspinall began training in martial arts as a child, learning catch wrestling and boxing before moving into Brazilian jiu-jitsu. His father worked as an instructor at Team Kaobon, the gym that introduced Aspinall to mixed martial arts and where he still trains under head coach Colin Heron. He built an unbeaten amateur record before turning professional in 2014.

Aspinall holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and won British Open titles in BJJ across multiple belt divisions as an amateur, giving him a grappling foundation that few heavyweights can match. His rapid rise through the UFC ranks has also earned him a string of Performance of the Night bonuses and recognition as a Comeback Fighter and Breakthrough Fighter of the Year by MMA media outlets.

Fighting out of a tall, athletic frame, Aspinall combines fast hands, heavy knees and sharp footwork with genuine submission grappling, a rare pairing at heavyweight. He is best known for his ability to close the show early, using speed and power that stand out even among the UFC's biggest men, and for finishing fights on the feet or on the mat with equal comfort.

Among his notable wins are finishes over veteran contenders Andrei Arlovski and Alexander Volkov. He won the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship in November 2023 with a first-round finish of Sergei Pavlovich, then defended the interim title with a rematch stoppage of Curtis Blaydes. He was elevated to undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion following Jon Jones's retirement from the sport.

A UFC heavyweight champion from Manchester, Aspinall is widely regarded as one of the most explosive finishers in his division's history, combining elite jiu-jitsu pedigree with knockout power and athleticism that have redefined expectations for what a modern heavyweight can do.