It’s been more than twelve months since Tom Aspinall competed inside the Octagon. During this period of inactivity, he transitioned from interim to undisputed heavyweight champion without ever fighting for the title. Now, there’s some pressure as he makes his return this weekend at UFC 321 against Ciryl Gane to prove that he’s the best heavyweight fighter in Dana White‘s promotion. But that’s not what we’re talking about in this article. 

Nicknames are an important part of a fighter’s career. They often signify their journey or something that is close to them and has meaning. For UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, the story is a bit different. He doesn’t really have a nickname, but there were attempts to call him ‘Honey Badger’, which did not stick for too long.

How did Tom Aspinall get the nickname ‘Honey Badger’?

There’s no doubt that Tom Aspinall is arguably the most devastating fighter in the heavyweight division. Not only does he have the speed, but he also has the power to knock people out. However, more than his fighting style, his nickname ‘Honey Badger’ has caught the attention of fans. The name was given to him by Daniel Cormier before his emphatic UFC 295 victory, as revealed by the champion in an interview.

During the UFC 295 pre-fight press conference, Aspinall claimed, “DC actually told me today about a honey badger. That’s me. I’m the honey badger moving forward. I’m happy with that, that’s cool.” However, in a YouTube video with former strongman Eddie Hall, Aspinall revealed that he’s actually ‘sensitive’ to nicknames and that the ‘Honey Badger’ moniker doesn’t suit him well. 

And at present, the Salford native doesn’t use that name anymore. “I am very sensitive to nicknames. I don’t really like them personally,” said the heavyweight champion. “A few couple of people tried to call me the ‘Honey Badger.'”

On another note, let’s talk about heavyweight fighters. The one moniker that is often associated with that division is the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ moniker, which was originally made famous by boxing icon Mike Tyson. But can we call Tom Aspinall by that same moniker since he’s the champion now?

Is Aspinall called the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’?

Tom Aspinall is as nice and genuine a fighter as any other fighter in the UFC. His gentlemanly nature has earned him a lot of fans, but when it comes to fighting and stepping inside the cage, he literally turns into the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’. He’s technically the most-skilled hand-to-hand combatant in the world, and he has the heavyweight belt, so we can assume that he has earned that nickname.

The Salford native may have earned the aforementioned moniker, but he does not take that seriously. In fact, he appears rather humorous when it comes to addressing the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ claims. During an interview with the Independent, ahead of his fight this weekend, Tom Aspinall jokingly said, “I f—ing stink,” acting dismissive of the moniker the fight community has given him.

Well, it’s nice to have nicknames, but that does not win you fights. For Tom Aspinall, there’s nothing more important to him than maintaining consistency inside the Octagon and going the extra mile in each and every training camp. Do you think he’ll edge past Ciryl Gane on Saturday? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.