In an effort to seek retribution for his 2022 loss to Curtis Blaydes, Tom Aspinall is leaving no stone unturned ahead of his UFC 304 title defense on July 27. Aspinall had suffered a devastating knee injury just 15 seconds into their fight last year, putting him out of action for a year. But now, the 31-year-old is determined to showcase his resilience and skill in the octagon.

After returning to the UFC with an emphatic win over Marcin Tybura and defeating Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295, Aspinall has adopted a unique training method for his upcoming showdown. Inspired by his Gypsy heritage and the documentary film "Knuckle," he has turned to a traditional Traveller method to prepare himself.

Aspinall revealed his training routine during an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. He described creating a small ring out of hay bales where he would perform shadow boxing in the early morning hours. In line with the traditional Gypsy method featured in the film, Aspinall would then dip his knuckles in petrol for around 20 minutes as the sun rose, which he believed would harden them.

This unconventional approach to training has deep roots, as Aspinall is not only connected to his own Gypsy heritage but also has trained with the Fury family, including heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury. Like Aspinall, Fury has acknowledged using the same technique to strengthen his hands before fights.

Confident in the results of his training regimen, Aspinall boldly proclaimed that he now possesses "some of the hardest knuckles in the UFC." He hopes that this newfound strength will make him even more dangerous inside the octagon and potentially earn him another quick knockout victory.

With his sights set on a decisive victory against Curtis Blaydes, Aspinall aims to impress and potentially entice undisputed champion Jon Jones to stick around after his rumored title fight against Stipe Miocic. The 31-year-old heavyweight contender is eager to showcase his skills and prove himself as a force to be reckoned with in the division.

As UFC 304 approaches, fans can look forward to witnessing Tom Aspinall's unique training method put to the test. Will his hardened knuckles deliver the retribution he seeks, or will Curtis Blaydes prove to be a formidable opponent? The answer will be revealed on July 27 when these two heavyweights step into the octagon.