Tom Aspinall goes off on "load of rubbish" pound-for-pound rankings: "Don't get me started on that"
Tom Aspinall is set to make his return to the octagon this weekend as he looks to defend his interim heavyweight title against Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event of UFC 304. The No.1-ranked heavyweight recently revealed that he is not a fan of pound-for-pound rankings, claiming you cannot compare different skill sets.
Speaking at the UFC 304 media day, Aspinall shared why he dislikes the list, stating:
"What is this pound-for-pound bulls**t? It's a load of rubbish. It's like saying - it just doesn't even make sense. Don't get me started on that. It's just like, how can you have a pound-for-pound [ranking]? What does that [mean]? Does that mean if everyone is the same size - so, how can you compare Demetrious Johnson's style to Brock Lesnar's style and say if they're the same? Like, they've got completely different attributes."
He continued:
"It's like, I've got a bulldog, right? It's like saying, right, if my bulldog had a really long neck, who would win? A giraffe or the bulldog? Like, it's absolutely bulls**t. How can you even compare it? It's a load of rubbish."
Check out Tom Aspinall's comments on the pound-for-pound list below:
The pound-for-pound list does not have any official criteria listed. Despite his complaints about the list, Aspinall will enter this weekend's bout as the No.11-ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the UFC roster.
Tom Aspinall calls Curtis Blaydes matchup a "lose-lose fight"
Tom Aspinall will look to solidify his position as the top-ranked contender in the heavyweight division when he faces Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. The interim heavyweight champion recently claimed that the bout is a lose-lose fight for him. Speaking to Oscar Willis of The Mac Life, he stated:
"There’s unfinished business there, evidently. Curtis is - I’ve said this all along. I said this before we last fought, which is over two years ago now. I believe that Curtis is the toughest matchup in the division for me stylistically. This is no disrespect to Curtis - it’s a bit of a lose-lose fight in the fact that he’s not that popular, is what I’m saying. He’s not that popular."
Check out Tom Aspinall's comments on facing Curtis Blaydes below (starting at the 6:09 mark):
The two previously clashed in the main event of UFC Fight Night 208. While Blaydes won the bout via first-round TKO, it lasted just 15 seconds as Aspinall tore his MCL and meniscus while also suffering damage to his ACL.