Muhammad Mokaev: Tom Aspinall’s Father Could Be Competitive with UFC Fighters

Muhammad Mokaev believes Tom Aspinall’s father, Andy Aspinall, can hold his own against ranked UFC fighters.

Mokaev and Aspinall will share a card in their hometown of Manchester, England, at UFC 304 on July 27 as the promotion returns to the city after nearly eight years. While Mokaev takes on Manel Kape in a flyweight matchup, Aspinall will put his interim heavyweight title on the line against Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event at the Co-op Live Arena.

As two elite MMA fighters hailing from the same region, Mokaev and Aspinall go back a long way. Mokaev was training in Wigan when he first met Aspinall and his father Andy, who were coaching at a different gym. Mokaev revealed that “Honey Badger” was working security at a pub then and would give him a ride home after practice for several years.

“Yeah, I met Tom Aspinall, he was coaching the kids session… And then his father was coaching adult session next session… And once Tom finished the session, Tom used to work at the pub as a security,” Mokaev told Title Sports Network. “And he used to finish this session, he dropped me off at the Town Center, it’s closer to my house. Then he stays at work until 3 a.m., Tom. And then I walk to my house. So, he used to give me lift for like three to four years… He was coaching the session [I was in].”

Mokaev also had high praise for Aspinall’s father, who quit his job when Tom was 12 years old to teach him Brazilian jiu-jitsu. According to Mokaev, Andy can compete against ranked UFC fighters right now, as his BJJ style will translate well into MMA.

“Tom is good. His dad is like amazing guy. I think he can go in the UFC and compete against the Top 15 right now,” Mokaev said. “I think he has really good pressure. Like, jiu-jitsu guys, in UK they have different styles. But Andy has [a style] actually suited for MMA. Like control, pressure, I like his style.”