UFC London: Tom Aspinall’s coach Colin Heron breaks down Curtis Blaydes challenge

For the second time in four months, Tom Aspinall will step out as a headliner in front of 17,000 fans at the O2 Arena on Saturday, taking on Curtis Blaydes in the main event of UFC London.

Aspinall’s run through the heavyweight division has been searing, the Wigan heavyweight going 5-0 in the UFC with stoppage wins in the first or second round each time out. Most recently, the 29-year-old (12-2) submitted Alexander Volkov in Round 1 at the March edition of UFC London, making light work of the veteran in what was Aspinall’s first UFC main event.

As the Briton prepares for his toughest test yet, a clash with Curtis Blaydes (16-3, 1 No Contest) this weekend, The Independent speaks to Aspinall’s coach Colin Heron about how Saturday’s main event will be decided.

Heron, 51, is the founder and head coach of Team Kaobon, and has worked with numerous UFC fighters including fellow Liverpudlian Darren Till – a fan favourite and former welterweight title challenger who had to withdraw from UFC London due to injury. Heron, the first Muay Thai coach to produce champions in every weight class of that sport, has known Aspinall since the title hopeful was 12. With Aspinall’s father having long coached jiu-jitsu at Kaobon, Heron has worked with the fourth-ranked UFC heavyweight for the best part of two decades.

“Long before this was announced, Tom agreed that the toughest fight in the top 10 – stylistically – was probably against Blaydes,” Heron says. “You never come across someone who wrestles that way. His wrestling credentials are pretty amazing. How he was able never to be scored upon, and to do it at his size... it’s hard to get a sparring partner to replicate that. With Volkov, we were able to bring some 6ft 9in, 7ft kickboxers