What Is UFC Champion Tom Aspinall Soaking His Knuckles In Before UFC 304?

Tom Aspinall is taking a page from Tyson Fury as he prepares for UFC 304.

The reigning interim heavyweight champion will put his title on the line vs. Curtis Blaydes on Saturday, July 27. The event takes place from the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Aspinall explained how he is preparing for Blaydes.

Read more: UFC Champ Tom Aspinall Calls Out Promotion For ‘Terrible’ 3 A.M. UFC 304 Start Time

“When it gets to about 4 a.m., I get my alarm on. I go outside, do a bit of shadowboxing in the hay bales,” Aspinall said (thanks to MMA Fighting for the quotes). “Then I do the old traveler method of dipping your knuckles in petrol.

“For about 20 minutes as the sun’s coming up and that hardens your knuckles.”

The idea comes from the documentary “Knuckle” which follows Joe Joyce. Joyce was part of the Irish Traveller bare-knuckle boxing world.

“I wanted to resort back to a bit of gypsy heritage that I’ve got,” Aspinall said. “So I thought, right, what I’m going to do is I’m going to make a little ring out of hay bales.”

The decision to begin training at 4 a.m. is also part of his plan to prepare for the time shift with his fight. With it being a marquee event, it will likely air live in primetime in the U.S.

That means Aspinall and Blaydes will make the walk to the Octagon in the early morning hours local time.

Aspinall and Blaydes met once before as a knee injury to Aspinall resulted in his first and only loss to date.

Tom Aspinall Following Tyson Fury’s Lead

Prior to his 2020 meeting with Deontay Wilder, Fury did just what Aspinall is doing now.

Fury told The Sun that he talked with Joyce about it beforehand.

“He told me about dipping his hands in petrol,” Fury said. “To toughen them up.

“It worked for him so I’m going to give it a try.”

Fury would earn a seventh round TKO vs. Fury, claiming the WBC, The Ring and the lineal heavyweight titles that night.

Related: Tyson Fury Next Fight: The ‘Gypsy King’ Sets Return For Revenge Fight In December

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