Tom aspinall face Alex Poatán. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
If there is anything positive to be taken from the defeat of Alex Poatán to Magomed Ankalayev No. UFC 313, on March 8, is the fact that the Brazilian denied the 12 takedown attempts made by the Russian throughout the five rounds, demonstrating good defense in the department that was one of the ones that most worried fans before the fight. Tom aspinall, however, did not seem impressed by this.
In a recent interview with the 'Morson Sport' channel, the interim heavyweight champion (up to 120,2 kg) analyzed Ankalaev's victory over Poatan and downplayed the Brazilian's takedown defenses, claiming that the Russian's objective was not to actually take him down but just to tire him out.
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“I thought it was an incredible fight, both guys did well, but I think Ankalaev was much better than him (Poatan) that night. Ankalaev always kept him in doubt. I don’t know what level Pereira is at on the ground, but he still worries about getting taken down. He definitely defended the takedowns, but from a trained and attentive eye, I don’t think Ankalaev was trying that hard to take him down. There were 10 or 11 takedown attempts, but I would say only two or three were real. The rest of the time he was trying to wear him down on the fence. I think Ankalaev had the perfect strategy, he didn’t compromise too much and he wore him down,” analyzed the Briton.
Tom aspinall had been constantly linked to a possible fight with Alex Poatán in case the Brazilian moves up to heavyweight, a possibility that became more remote with the defeat in UFC 313. Now, the British fighter awaits the definition of his future, which should be the unification duel of the heavyweight belts against the linear champion Jon Jones.
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