Meet the next great British MMA heavyweight hope

Mick Parkin, age 29, has never lost a fight in the UFC and is training with two of the best heavyweights in the UK. He is shocked to be paid to fight.

“Something I was doing for years for free before I was paid” He claims, “It’s amazing.”

Even worth it for him to travel for three hours on days to train with KSW heavyweight champion Phil De Fries and interim UFC champion Tom Aspinall.

He goes on to say, “I could be going to like a building site in the freezing cold, which I would absolutely dislike.”

What are you being depressed for, or do I enjoy this, sometimes? You are currently living a wonderful life.

In the UFC, Parkin is currently winning four straight fights. He signed with the UFC with only six previous fights.

The Sunderland man has gotten a little faster with the promotion because of his ongoing relationship with Aspinall, one of the biggest stars in the UFC, and the constantly-changing nature of the division he fights in.

In 2022, he was given a spot on Dana White’s Contender Series and a first-round stoppage, earning himself a UFC contract.

Prior to that, Parkin spent time working security at a bar and frequently attending Sunderland games.

He switched from kickboxing to MMA after his mother pressured him to try the jiu-jitsu gym.

Without Phil and Tom and coach [Andrew] Fisher, he claims, “I don’t think I’d be anywhere near where I am right now.”

“I went to Aspinall to train, and I was completely offended. Really awful I sneered at myself, “Oh my god, I’m useless at this.” It feels like resuming.

He continues, “I’m already ranked, despite not having many fights in the UFC.”

There aren’t many of us, so heavyweight, you’re pushed a little more.

The UK’s heavyweight scene is frequently unpresented. Parker claims that Parker re-joined because of his struggles with his fellow amateurs.

However, two significant men have recently emerged and achieved success across a number of opposing factions.

Aspinall, a 31-year-old Manchester fighter, rose through the ranks to become the top heavyweight contender in the UFC and is eager to compete against legendary champion Jon Jones.

De Fries, 38, is one of KSW’s biggest stars. With eleven successful defecations since 2018, he is the most dominant champion in European promotion.

In the UFC rankings, Parkin is at number 13. On Saturday in UFC London, he takes on No. 8 contender Marcin Tybura.

Similar to boxing, the heavyweight division continues to be at the top of UFC attention.

Under the direction of Aspinall and De Fries, Parkin might be the heavyweight champion. The scene is ready for another fight.

But in reality, Parkin doesn’t want to fight Aspinall in the future; rather, the opposite.

I wouldn’t want to fight him, he declared. He’s my friend, but I had hoped that he would be done by the time I arrived, and that he might have won a lot of money and retire, “Parkin says.

I’ve already had a lot of fights against him, and, unless it was for crazy money, I just wouldn’t really want to fight him.

“I’m 13th ranked now. Although I’m fighting eighth, there might still be at least 15 more to beat before I can even get there.

According to Parkin, “I believe Tybura probably had 20 or so UFC fights.”