Tom Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in the first round to become the UFC's interim heavyweight world champion.
Aspinall produced a devastating display despite having just over two weeks to prepare for one of the most dangerous fighters on the UFC's roster. The Brit landed a right hand just over a minute into the fight and floored the Russian with another seconds later before the referee jumped in.
"It’s been a crazy two and a half weeks, I just want to say to anyone if you get a chance to do something, do it because it might f****ng pay off," said Aspinall. "He’s a big scary guy, I've never been as scared before fighting this guy but I've got a lot of power too."
Aspinall and Pavlovich agreed to fight when heavyweight champion Jon Jones pulled out of his title defence against Stipe Miocic. Jones could be sidelined for eight months, forcing the UFC to scramble to put together an interim title fight at just two weeks' notice.
Pavlovich had been preparing to be the reserve fighter for Jones vs Miocic, but Aspinall had no plans to fight again this year when he received the promotion's call. The Mancunian had fought just once since last summer, a first-round stoppage of Marcin Tybura which came 12 months after he tore his knee ligaments against Curtis Blaydes.
Pavlovich, meanwhile had won his previous six fights by first-round stoppage. But his early attacks were foiled by Aspinall who dropped his rival before pouncing to finish the job on the canvas. "This man right here has been with me my whole life, so this belt is dedicated to my father," added Aspinall. "I was struggling with the distance a little bit, his arms are really long so it felt a bit funny but we got there. Let’s remember the people who died for us years go, no one would be here if it wasn’t for our ancestors mp matter which country we are from."
Earlier on the main card, Jessica Andrade snapped a three-fight losing streak with a second-round stoppage of Mackenzie Dern. Andrade knocked Dern down twice in the second session but beckoned her rival back to her feet on each occasion. Dern obliged but when a left-right sent her down again, the referee spared her from further punishment.
Benoit Saint Denis silenced the crowd with a stunning first-round KO of home favourite Matt Frevola, catching the New Yorker with a head kick which sent him crashing to the canvas. Saint Denis followed up on the ground but the referee quickly waved off the fight.
Diego Lopes stopped Pat Sabatini in the first round of the opening fight on the main card. Lopes send his rival staggering backwards with a right hand to the temple before finishing the job on the canvas as he forced the referee to step in.
