BRIT Tom Aspinall is back in the hunt for the UFC heavyweight title following a spectacular comeback victory over Marcin Tybura.
The Atherton assassin returned from a year-long layoff at The O2 on Saturday night against the Polish pounder.
Aspinall, 30, suffered agony in the North Greenwich dome last July when he injured his right knee seconds into his showdown with Curtis Blaydes last July.
But he exorcised the ghost of that career-stalling night with a stunning first-round TKO of veteran Tybura.
The Team Kaboan star said: It’s been a really tough year for me. I wasn’t myself, I wasn’t myself last year.”
He added: “I’m not gonna say I’m back because I’m different.”
The Brit said: “I’m gonna go all the way.”
Aspinall was light on his feet after emerging from his usual crouching stance.
And he landed a huge head kick that knocked back the Polish pounder a matter of seconds into the stanza.
Chants of “Tommy Aspinall quickly began to ring throughout the arena.
But they simmered slightly after Tyburya got the better of a heavy exchange with some punishing blows.
That success, however, was short lived as in the next exchange he got wobbled by a nasty right elbow.
He did well not to show the crowd he was hurt, but Aspinall sensed blood and moved in for the kill.
A stinging straight right sent Tybura to the canvas and gave Aspinall a golden opportunity to close the show.
And he showed lightening fast speed to pounce on the fallen Pole and rain down hellfire to close out the show.
Aspinall was overcome with emotion after the stoppage, climbing the cage and putting his head in his hands as he took in his stunning comeback victory.
Aspinall was quick to reveal his plans just minutes after getting back in the heavyweight title mix.
And that starts with a trip to Paris in September to see Ciryl Gane lock horns with Sergei Spivack and earn a crack at current heavyweight king Jon Jones.
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