Superb Aspinall stops Blaydes in 60 seconds

Tom Aspinall was defending his interim heavyweight title for the first time

Britain's Tom Aspinall knocked out American Curtis Blaydes in 60 seconds in another superb performance to retain his interim heavyweight title in front of his home crowd at UFC 304 in Manchester.

Aspinall, 31, dropped the 33-year-old with a swift one-two combo before finishing the fight with ground strikes.

The win avenges the defeat Aspinall suffered two years ago, where he sustained a serious knee injury in the first round against Blaydes.

Aspinall is now set to compete for the undisputed title after UFC president Dana White confirmed the winner will face the victor of champion Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, who are pencilled in to fight later this year.

"Hello Jon, I have nothing against you, but I just think I'm better than you and I can beat you in a fight. I'm coming for you," said Aspinall.

Aspinall and Blaydes only spent 15 seconds in the octagon together two years ago before the Briton's injury brought the contest to a premature end, but it was enough to build a bond of respect between the pair which has been on display during a series of civil handshakes during fight week.

After recovering, Aspinall went on to beat Sergei Pavlovich to win the interim heavyweight belt in November, before turning his attention to "unfinished business" with Blaydes.

Aspinall weighed in at 251lb for the contest with the American - 10lb lighter than when he stepped on the scales before defeating Pavlovich, and his speed was on display in another accomplished performance.

Blaydes entered first to a polite reception from the crowd, before Aspinall delivered on his promise of delivering a special walkout, playing a snippet of a song from Manchester band Oasis - much to the delight of the home crowd.

After a rousing introduction, the pair fist bumped, and the fight got under way to a backdrop of "Tommy Aspinall" chants.

Similar to their first bout, but under much different circumstances, it ended in rapid time in exactly one minute.

Following a tussle between the pair at the cage, Aspinall delivered a flash left jab-right overhand combination which sent Blaydes stumbling over backwards, before finishing the fight with strikes on the ground.

Aspinall celebrated by running around the octagon, addressing a delighted home crowd, after securing his third straight first-round knockout.

"I needed to put that one to bed - before was a freak accident, I've put that to rest," said Aspinall.

"I'm the best finisher in the UFC. If I smell blood, that's it, you're done. I've just spoken to the boss man. Who wants to see Jon Jones v Tom Aspinall?

"To everyone in the nosebleeds and watching on the TV, I'm a normal guy, from a normal family from a normal area.

"Sometimes, normal people can do extraordinary things. No holding back, just go for it."

Pimblett earns 'statement' victory

Pimblett extended his winning streak in the UFC to six

On the undercard, Britain's Paddy Pimblett delivered a fine performance as he submitted American lightweight Bobby Green in the first round.

Pimblett, 29, has had a fine start to his UFC career, winning his first five fights and building a cult following of fans, but in Green he faced his toughest test so far.

Green, a veteran of 50 professional bouts across a 16-year career, is 15th in the UFC lightweight rankings and represented the first time Pimblett had fought a ranked opponent in the organisation.

Pimblett made his walkout at about 04:30 BST, dancing towards the octagon and sparking the crowd into life following a lull which was perhaps brought on by the overnight scheduling.

Serenaded by "oh Paddy the Baddy" chants, Pimblett adopted a leg-kicking approach early in the fight, prompting Green to shoot for a takedown halfway into the round.

But that is where Pimblett pounced, first failing with a guillotine and triangle choke, before transitioning to an armbar.

Green was unconscious by the time Pimblett extended the armbar, forcing the referee to step in and stop the contest.

Pimblett jumped to his feet with his arms in the air, before climbing over the cage and celebrating in front of White.

"Statement made. I knew it. I'm first to submit Bobby in the UFC. That's saying something, that's a statement to all you haters out there saying I'd never get a ranking," said Pimblett.

"This is how special it is, make some noise, come on. I've said it before and I'll say again, the King of the North."

Pimblett then called out Brazil's Renato Moicano, who faces France's Benoit Saint Denis in September.