Tom Aspinall surprises lucky fan with once-in-a-lifetime experience ahead of UFC 304 in Manchester

Tom Aspinall surprised one lucky fan with a once-in-a-lifetime training session ahead of his defence of the UFC heavyweight title in Manchester next weekend.

Salford native Aspinall, 31, is set to co-headline UFC 304 at the Co-op Live Arena alongside fellow Brit Leon Edwards. Aspinall is the current interim champion of the heavyweight division after defeating Russian Sergei Pavlovich with a brutal TKO at Madison Square Garden in November.

Next up for Aspinall is a rematch against American Curtis Blaydes, who he lost to in July 2022 after suffering a serious knee injury just seconds into the first round.

But before entering the octagon to face Blaydes in a highly-anticipated rematch on July 27, the Brit teamed up with Gym King and their Nothing Beats Belief campaign to surprise a 16-year-old MMA enthusiast with an experience of a lifetime.

As part of Gym King's campaign, which aims to highlight the importance of resilience and overcoming adversity, Ottis was put through his paces on the pads by the UFC's interim heavyweight champion.

Speaking on the importance of giving back to his fans, Aspinall said: “It’s really important to me to give back to young fans like Ottis. He’s been through some tough times but has shown great strength and courage to come through them and it’s really inspiring.

"He has come to a few of my meet and greet events in the past and has never got the chance to meet me so I’ve come to surprise him and put a smile on his face.”

Meanwhile, Gym King owner Jay Parker added: "At Gym King, Nothing Beats Belief is the foundation of our brand. It’s about having the right mindset and resilience to push through any adversity life throws at you.

"Both Tom and Ottis live by this mindset, so this was a