Tom Aspinall has revealed he is using a bizarre pre-fight strategy ahead of UFC 304.
The Atherton Assassin defends his interim heavyweight title in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event of a Manchester pay-per-view card on Sunday morning.
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Aspinall, 31, will be looking to avenge a horrific knee injury he suffered in his first fight two years ago and has his sights set on another win.
And before the Manchester attack he dipped his hands in petrol every night to strengthen them, remembering his gypsy heritage.
during an appearance MMA HourHe said: “Have you ever seen Documentary Copy? Are you familiar with it?
“this is a Documentary About this PassengerTravelling communities in the UK, Ireland.
“And there’s a man there, big Joe JoyceAn old travel legend, and bigger Joe Joyce It reveals some of the gypsy methods of preparing for battle.
“I wanted to bring back some of my gypsy heritage, so I thought I would make a little ring out of hay bales.
“When it’s 4 a.m., I turn on my alarm, go outside, do a little shadowboxing in the hay bales.
“And then I do the old traveller’s method of dipping my fingers in petrol for about 20 minutes when the sun comes up, and that toughens up your fingers.”
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Many boxers in the tourist community still soak their hands in petrol before fights, including former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
The Gypsy King soaked his hands in the fuel every day for the final few weeks of training camp for his 2020 rematch with Deontay Wilder, which he won via seventh-round TKO.
are clear Health Concerns about leaving hands in flammable and hazardous liquids for long periods of time Duration Time is short, although Aspinall isn’t worried about that.
Britain’s third UFC champion said of his hands: “Mate, they’re like stone.”
“You know, I’ve seen their new gloves, and they’re a lot smaller than the others. They have a lot less padding.
“And I thought, you know, I’ve got to strengthen my fingers, and this is the only way I know.
“I’ve been dipping them in petrol, the old gypsy way, and they’ve become like stones.
“If I get a nasty knockout on Saturday, you better believe half the guys on the roster are going to be dipping their fingers in petrol.”
