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Exclusive: Tom Aspinall reflects on that painful night in London last year
First the pain, then the agony.
Tom Aspinall admits he had never experienced anything quite like it before.
To this day, he still has flashbacks to that painful night in London, when he suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into his fight with Curtis Blaydes last year.
Technically it counts as an official loss on his record, but it was the damage he endured that affected him most.
"Honest to God that was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life,” Aspinall told MMA Insider.
“I’ve been injured before but nothing like that. No-one should have to go through that. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
“It’s tough mate, it’s tough. Try being a dad to three kids when you’re on the sofa all day because you’re physically unable to walk for weeks. There were times I was close to giving up to be honest with you.”
But he didn’t quit. Instead, Aspinall threw himself back into training as soon as he was given the okay by the doctors, spending hours on the mats in an effort to make up for lost time.
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After being medically declared fit, he was finally ready to make a comeback.
Aspinall made a winning return at UFC London, knocking out Marcin Tybura in the first round, having not fought for almost 12 months.
“It was perfect. Everything happened exactly the way I thought it would,” he said.
“I couldn’t have asked for more. Everyone was so supportive. I love fighting in front of the fans.
“After what had happened before, I knew I had to put it right. So I’m glad I gave the fans something to cheer about.”
Even so, Aspinall admits that his job isn’t for the faint-hearted. After all, it takes a brave individual to step into the cage.
“My honest advice would be don’t do it,” he added. “Getting punched in the face for a living isn’t fun. It’s not a normal job.
“There are better ways of earning money, let me tell you that. But I need it.
“I need fighting. If the injury taught me anything it’s that I need it. I need to be competing.”