UFC star Tom Aspinall admits it's become 'political' at the top of the heavyweight division, as he prepares to defend the interim belt at UFC 304... and reveals struggles of dealing with the early start time in Manchester

Tom Aspinall isn't one to wait around. The UFC interim heavyweight champion is eager to return to the octagon and keep his momentum at the top rolling. 

He'll get to do just that at UFC 304 on July 27 in Manchester, where he'll defend his title in a highly anticipated rematch against America's Curtis Blaydes. 

The co-main event bout will be Aspinall's first return to the octagon since claiming the interim belt with an emphatic knockout victory against Sergei Pavlovich back in November last year.

Aspinall's recent hiatus might raise an eyebrow for some fans, but the heavyweight division operates on its own timetable. 

Speaking ahead of the filming of TNT Sports' show Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab, he explains to Mail Sport: 'Six, seven months. When you're at the top of the division, especially the heavyweights, things move a lot slower.

'When you're up and coming, you're fighting way more regularly. Three, four times a year, but it becomes a little bit more political at the top. So it's to be expected.' 

The 31-year-old has been campaigning to unify the heavyweight title since beating Pavlovich, but that goal has been put on hold by the reigning champion, Jon Jones.

The 36-year-old suffered a torn pectoral while training to fight Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 and has since claimed he will honour that bout before any fight with Aspinall.

But Aspinall, who previously claimed one of his rivals is 'holding s*** up' in the heavyweight division, insists his patience hasn't hindered his development. 

'I knew they were thinking about going back to the UK. And then I started hearing about Manchester. It's no dramas for me, I've improved a lot in the time in between fights. 

The upcoming fight in Manchester holds a special significance for Aspinall, who grew up in Salford and began martial arts at the Leigh Self Defence Studio. 

'I'm expecting it to be pretty wild,' he says, his confidence evident. 'I've fought at home, I've fought away. I've been the underdog, I've been the favourite. I've fought champions. Like, I've done a lot in my short career.

'I'm not worried about being overwhelmed by anything or anybody anymore. I know that I can do it and all I can do is go out there and build the best version of myself.'

However, a unique challenge has emerged for both fighters and fans. The main card will begin at 3am BST, with Aspinall likely making his walk to the octagon two hours later.

'In my personal opinion, it's worse for the fans than it is for the fighters, the UK fans,' Aspinall admits. 

'It's a lot worse for the people who want to come and watch the event live. And, as a fighter, we haven't figured out yet, as a team, what we're going to do in terms of training, in terms of sleep patterns and all that. 

'Obviously you want to be 100 per cent when you step in there, so some things will have to be amended and adjusted a little bit. But how does that look at this point? I don't know, we're still figuring it out.'

'I'll have a chat to a few people. Me and Michael Bisping are friends, so I would likely ask him. 

'My coach has mentioned something to me recently about going training with Leon Edwards a little bit, so I might ask Leon as well. We'll figure that out'.

The true significance of this fight lies beyond the interim title. Aspinall views this as a 'a real title defence' and a stepping stone towards his ultimate goal. 

'This is a real title defence,' he declares. 'For me, it's another fight, tough fight. I don't shy away from tough fights. 

'I've openly said plenty of times that I think Curtis Blaydes is one of the toughest fights in the division for me, if not the toughest stylistically.

'I'm not really bothered who it is, but my next fight has to be for the undisputed title. I'm not defending the interim forever. 

'This is, I think, for the real title. A lot of people see Jon Jones as kind of sitting on the title a little bit. So I'm treating it as a real title defence. 

'But again, the next fight has to be for the undisputed title. There shouldn't be two champions in any weight division'.

Watch Tom Aspinall’s Fight Lab on TNT Sports and discovery+ from 9:45pm on Sunday. For more info visit tntsports.com