UFC Champion Tom Aspinall Sparred With Strongman Eddie Hall Ahead of 2026 Camp

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has spent time sparring with Eddie Hall, the former World's Strongest Man, as part of his preparation heading into 2026. The rounds with Hall, a 2017 World's Strongest Man winner who famously deadlifted 500 kilograms, reportedly forced the champion to stay sharp with his footwork and defense.

Aspinall, a 33-year-old from England who trains with Team Kaobon, is 15-3 as a professional and sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The orthodox fighter stands six-foot-five, or 196 cm, with a 78-inch reach. His striking numbers back up his reputation for speed: he lands 7.63 significant strikes per minute at 67 percent accuracy. He also averages 2.62 takedowns and 1.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes, a reflection of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu skill that complements his hands. He holds the fastest average fight time in UFC history.

Hall brought surprising striking ability and raw power into the sparring sessions, according to the report. Those traits made for competitive rounds in which the champion could not afford to drift. Hall has already made his own mixed martial arts debut, and testing himself against the division's most devastating finisher underlined his continued commitment to combat sports.

Why it matters

• Sparring against a much larger, power-driven partner gives Aspinall a different look than a typical heavyweight camp, rewarding disciplined movement and defensive habits.
• Aspinall's speed and finishing ability are central to his championship profile, and work against raw size and strength tests those qualities in a different way.
• The session offers a glimpse of how the champion is approaching preparation as he looks toward 2026.