UFC heavyweight standout Tom Aspinall has been a dominant force since stepping into the promotion. The British powerhouse wasted no time making his mark, steamrolling through opponents and, within just three years, rising to the top of the division. He secured the interim heavyweight title in 2023 at UFC 295 in New York’s Madison Square Garden, with Jon Jones, the then-champion, out because of a torn pectoral tendon.

Despite securing interim gold, Tom Aspinall’s journey to becoming the undisputed champion was anything but straightforward. He waited over a year and a half for a unification bout that never materialized. After holding the belt for more than 800 days, Jon Jones vacated the title, allowing the UFC to officially recognize the Brit as the undisputed heavyweight champion. Throughout these challenging times, one constant presence in his corner was his father, Andy Aspinall, who supported the UFC heavyweight star through every setback and triumph.

Andy Aspinall’s role in his son’s MMA journey

Many UFC fighters benefit from supportive parents, a factor that helps them reach the sport’s highest stage. But for Tom Aspinall, his father, Andy Aspinall, went further than most. Andy committed himself to propelling his son to the top of MMA, channeling his own ambitions through Tom’s career. At just 12 years old, Tom became the focus of his father’s selfless dedication. Andy left a well-paying IT career to open a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school, giving Tom a solid foundation in the sport’s ground game.

Reflecting on this decision in an interview with talkSPORT last year, Andy Aspinall said, “I was a contractor for a long time, making good money, and then I was an IT manager. I got offered a redundancy payment that I didn’t have to take, but Tom was very good at jiu-jitsu, and there weren’t many jiu-jitsu schools open.”

Despite Andy’s unwavering commitment to his son’s rise in MMA, recent rumors have surfaced questioning Tom Aspinall’s paternity. Observers have pointed to the notable height difference between father and son, fueling speculation: Is Andy Aspinall truly Tom’s father?

What We Know About Tom Aspinall’s Mother and Family Life

Tom Aspinall was born on 11 April 1993 to Tracey Aspinall and Andy Aspinall. Both parents played a role in raising him and his younger brother, but very little is publicly known about his mother. In 2024, Chael Sonnen shared an off-camera conversation he had with Andy at the time of UFC 304, where he asked Tom whether his mother liked to watch him fight.

Sonnen recalled Andy’s response: “I asked the father, now I’m talking to the father, and I said, ‘Is Tom’s mom, his mother, here, your wife?” He said, “No, she’s at home in bed.” I said, “Well, okay. When you say in bed, is she watching?’ He goes, “No, she never watches. She gets too nervous.” I said, “Okay, when you say she’s at home in bed, you mean like she’s asleep, she’s sound asleep while her baby boy is fighting for the world title?” He said, ‘Yeah.’ I woke her up.”

The exchange underscores the strong bond between Tom Aspinall and his parents. Recently, speculation swirled online after a side-by-side comparison of a younger Tyson Fury’s father and Tom sparked rumors of a possible family link, with some suggesting Tom might be Tyson Fury’s half-brother. Andy Aspinall quickly dismissed the claims, stressing that the DNA test had already been “done.”

How Tom Aspinall’s early life shaped his UFC career

Tom Aspinall’s MMA journey began at just eight years old in a modest gym built in his family’s backyard garage. Though small, the space laid the foundation for his early training in wrestling and boxing. By the age of 16, Aspinall had discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, sparking a new focus in his teenage years. A sudden growth spurt during this period brought physical challenges, but his true path in MMA began at 20.

At that stage, Tom Aspinall faced another hurdle: his size made it difficult to find suitable sparring and training partners to refine his skills. That’s when Tyson Fury and his uncle, renowned boxing coach Peter Fury, stepped in. By combining Aspinall’s already formidable BJJ background with striking expertise, they played a crucial role in shaping his development.

Reflecting on his time with the Furys, Tom Aspinall revealed, “At the time, so my dad’s friends with a guy called Peter Fury. Peter Fury is like a boxing legend. Legendary boxing trainer. He’s like, trained Tyson Fury, he’s trained a lot of other, you know, high-level boxers. And I was struggling for sparring even at the time. I couldn’t find any sparring partners. My dad’s friends with Peter Fury.”

While honing his skills at the Fury gym, Tom Aspinall never missed a session at his father’s Aspinall BJJ gym, continuing to sharpen his ground game. Now, the Aspinalls are ready for battle this weekend in Abu Dhabi at UFC 321, where Tom will defend his undisputed heavyweight title for the first time. Will he emerge victorious? We’ll find out this Saturday.