Michael Bisping explains the 'key to victory' as Tom Aspinall ...

Updated 11/11/2023 at 09:39 GMT

Former UFC fighter Michael Bisping believes Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall are both capable of winning Saturday’s title fight.

After Jon Jones pulled out of a heavyweight title clash against Stipe Miocic through injury, Aspinall was given the chance to take on Russian contender Pavlovich for the interim belt in the same division.

Jones and Miocic are expected to renew hostilities in 2024, but either way, the winner of Saturday’s co-main event in New York at UFC 295, shown live on TNT Sports, stands in a good position to challenge for the full belt next year.

Aspinall has dealt with his own injury problems, but speaking to TNT Sports, Bisping thinks that his fellow Briton’s track record speaks for itself.

He said: “It’s not because Tom’s from our neck of the woods, it’s not because he’s English, it’s not because we’re mates. It’s because of his body of work, his results in the octagon, the way he’s steamrolled everybody, gone right through them.”

However, he was clear that he respected Pavlovich, and even saw a way through for victory for the fighter, if he manages the octagon correctly.

He said: "Sergei Pavlovich, when you speak to him, it’s impossible not to like him. He’s got this big, warm infectious smile.

“Great sense of humour, very humble, but he’s also a monster. I’m all about Tom but when you spend a bit of time around Sergei, he’s a nice guy but I would not like to be down a dark alley with him.

“It’s all down to the footwork. Tom is loose and he’s dancing around, and he’s using all the space in the octagon. It’s huge.

“Tom needs to use all of that space, but if Sergei can cut him off and make it small, back him up against the fence that's the key to victory for Sergei.”

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