Tom Aspinall rejects UFC 295 concern as 4am call 'shock' to replace Jon Jones revealed

British Heavyweight Tom Aspinall has no concerns about being under-prepared as he counts down to a UFC title fight – despite accepting it on two weeks’ notice.

The Atherton star will co-headline UFC 295 at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City this Sunday morning (UK time). While most fighters typically have training camps lasting several months, Aspinall was given just 17 days to prepare to face no.2-ranked Sergei Pavlovich.

But the 30-year-old has no fears as he looks to become only Britain’s third-ever champion in the UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts competition. “I’m feeling good, with the circumstances I’ve got, I’m feeling really good,” said Aspinall. “I did five, five-minute rounds today sparring, different guy every round which is not easily done, especially at heavyweight.”

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Aspinall replaces current heavyweight champion Jon Jones who suffered a nasty pectoral injury, ruling him out of his fight with Stipe Miocic. With Miocic refusing to face Pavlovich – the backup fighter for the event - on such short notice, Aspinall received a call at 4am to see if he would step up to the chance of becoming Britain’s first UFC heavyweight champion.

“I was shocked, to be honest,” he said. “I’ve never actually received a direct call from who called me before, so I knew it was something fight-related. It was something serious. I was totally in shock for a couple of days.”

Clitheroe’s Michael Bisping – the first-ever British UFC champion – also seized his opportunity to become champion on 17 days’ notice when he knocked out former