Curtis Blaydes recorded a TKO victory over Tom Aspinall 15 seconds into Round 1 of their heavyweight bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in London when the English fighter suffered a freak knee injury.
Aspinall delivered an outside leg kick but then grabbed his right knee in pain while bringing his leg back. Aspinall left the ring in O2 Arena on a cart with a splint on his right leg.
Blaydes improved to 17-3 (11-3 UFC) but said afterward that’s not how he wanted it.
“It’s almost like we didn’t even fight,” Blaydes said. “I wanted to come here, prove a statement. Aspinall is legit. I know a win over him would’ve shown the world I’m ready for a title shot, I’m legit. I wish the injury hadn’t happened. I don’t even know what to say.”
“I’m sorry, man, sorry,” Blaydes said, toward Aspinall.
Aspinall, who falls to 12-3, had been 5-0 in UFC coming into the bout.
–Field Level Media