LONDON – Dan Hardy sees a quick finish as Tom Aspinall’s best route to success vs. Marcin Tybura.
Aspinall (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) returns from a knee injury to take on Tybura (24-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 224 headliner at The O2 in London. The event streams on ESPN+.
Aspinall never has gone past Round 2 and has finished all but one of his UFC wins in the first round. With Tybura’s experience going the distance, Hardy thinks Aspinall will likely have to stop him early.
“As long as this fight goes, the more chance Marcin Tybura has to get into it,” Hardy said. “For me, Tom Aspinall has got to get him out of there first (round), (or) early second round. Otherwise, it’s going to be two big bears wrestling, and that’s where Tybura’s size and experience come into play.”
Hardy is high on Aspinall, and thinks the Brit will be wearing UFC gold in the future.
“If he stops Tybura in the first round, early second round, he can be calling out for anybody in the top five,” Hardy said. “It’s wide open for Tom. The only thing that’s going to work against him is the lack of activity. We’re going to want to see him probably fight two more times before he gets a big opportunity.
“Tom, he’s a young man. He’s determined in his potential, and I think as long as he’s healthy, he’s going to be able to get all the way to the top of this heavyweight division. I think he’s going to win the heavyweight title one day. It wouldn’t surprise me, absolutely, whatsoever because he’s just got everything he needs, and I think we’re going to see a glimpse of that (Saturday) night.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.
