Tom Aspinall will have the words of one of MMA’s greatest legends ringing in his ears when he fights this weekend.
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has given him some tips after picking up his career-best win under similar circumstances.
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The British superstar is set to face streaking contender Sergei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 295 in New York’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Aspinall took the fight on short notice after the UFC’s 30th-anniversary card was derailed when heavyweight king Jon Jones got injured and his scrap with former two-time champion Stipe Miocic collapsed.
Bisping became the first British champion in UFC history when he scored a massive upset win by knocking out Luke Rockhold on two weeks’ notice at UFC 199 in June 2016.
The Hall of Famer is in town for fight week and has been giving Aspinall some guidance about how to deal with getting the biggest fight of his life on short notice.
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“Bisping has always given me advice,” he told talkSPORT.com and other reporters at the UFC 295 media day.
"We are friends, we speak all the time. Yeah, he just tells me to enjoy the moment and don't let it overwhelm you. And that's what I intend on doing.
“I’m not gonna go in there on Saturday and take it too seriously.
“It’s not life or death, this is a sport and I’m gonna go in there and enjoy myself. Win or lose, I’m going to enjoy myself on Saturday night and I can’t wait.”
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Aspinall insists he's enjoying the hectic nature of his latest bout.
He added: “I didn’t train, didn’t have my visa and I was just scrambling around last minute.
Tom Aspinall looks ahead to fighting at Madison Square Garden for UFC interim heavyweight title against 'scary' Sergei Pavlovich“Before I know it, they just throw me to New York, I’m here and I don’t even have time to think about the fight.
“I think it’s working to my advantage so far, but I haven’t fought yet, so we’ll see Saturday night.”
Aspinall has the chance to become just the third UFC champion from the UK.
A unification bout with Jones after he recovers from his bicep injury awaits the winner of the UFC 295 co-main event, as does a potential clash with Miocic.
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