Tom Aspinall explains soaking knuckles in petrol daily ahead of Curtis Blaydes clash at UFC 304: "They're like rocks"
Tom Aspinall has suggested that he's adopted an old-school training technique, involving the usage of petrol, ahead of his upcoming title showdown against Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall is scheduled to defend his interim UFC heavyweight title in a rematch against America's Blaydes.
The Aspinall-Blaydes matchup will serve as the co-headliner of UFC 304, which will transpire at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on July 27, 2024. It's believed that it'll be around 4:00 am or 5:00 am on July 28 in the UK when Aspinall and Blaydes enter the octagon.
In his latest appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Tom Aspinall was asked about his approach to the fight's timings, which seemingly caters to the US audience. Aspinall and Blaydes had expressed their disapproval of the UFC booking the timings as such.
Helwani notably alluded to the topic. Meanwhile, Aspinall explained that he's been using a few old-school Irish traveler training methods that are popular in the UK and Ireland.
Aspinall noted that he sleeps at his usual time of around 11:00 pm-12:00 am and sets his alarm for 4:00 am. After waking up, he stretches and shadowboxes in a ring made of bales of hay, soaks his knuckles in petrol, and proceeds with his routine that includes a mid-day nap.
The 31-year-old referenced the famous 2011 documentary film, 'Knuckle,' which features the Irish traveler community's bare-knuckle boxing stories. Aspinall noted that he's resorted to his own "Gypsy heritage." He further explained that a veteran bare-knuckle fighter, Big Joe Joyce, used to dip his knuckles in petrol to toughen them. Aspinall stated:
"A bale of hay, yeah. When it gets to about 4:00 am, I get my alarm on. I go outside; do a bit of shadowboxing in the hay bales. And then, I do the old traveler method of dipping your knuckles in petrol for about 20 minutes -- as the sun's coming up. And that hardens your knuckles."
"You need to watch the documentary, 'Knuckle,' with the legendary man, Joe Joyce, and all the guys who do that shadowboxing in hay bales, and taking it old school, and dipping your knuckles in petrol."
When asked if he was doing that every day, Aspinall responded by noting that it was on "most days." He added:
"It's an old traditional fighting man thing. Dip your knuckles in the petrol, mate. Get them rock hard. And these are some of the hardest knuckles in the UFC right here right now. They're like rocks ... It [The petrol] is in a barrel."
Check out Tom Aspinall's comments below (11:10-14:00):
Tom Aspinall reiterates benefit of petrol-soaking sessions, dealing with its stench
Around their conversation's 35:10-minute mark, Tom Aspinall and Ariel Helwani revisited the petrol-soaking method. Helwani indicated that perhaps heavyweight boxing legend Tyson Fury, a British fighter with Irish traveler heritage, also uses it. Aspinall was seemingly unaware of his longtime acquaintance Fury's views on it, but he reiterated its benefits for one's knuckles.
Furthermore, Ariel Helwani opined that getting the stench off one's petrol-soaked knuckles must be a challenging task. Tom Aspinall highlighted that the method is a well-known tradition in the areas he lives. The UK heavyweight MMA stalwart also asserted that it takes around "10 minutes" to wash the petrol off, something solved by a "quick shower."