AN ATHERTON UFC star is targeting heavyweight title showdown after his impressive win following a comeback from injury.

On Saturday, July 22, Tom Aspinall dispensed with Poland’s Marcin Tybura inside the first round at UFC London on Saturday evening, after working his way back from knee surgery.

Aspinall needed just one minute and 13 seconds to secure victory by knockout at the O2 Arena – where he suffered the injury in defeat to Curtis Blaydes a year ago.

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Speaking in the ring afterwards, he said: “I’ll tell you exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to go to Paris, I’m going to be sat front row for Ciryl Gane against Sergey Spivac. I’m going to beat the winner and then I’m going to beat Jon Jones.”

That challenge prompted a swift response from American Jones, who took to social media to say: “Sounds good lol”.

In a video posted on UFC’s official Twitter account, a smiling Aspinall said: “He knows I exist. We’re winning, he knows I exist. That’s good. That’s progress, that’s progress. I’ll see him soon.”

Aspinall, weighing in at 258lbs, launched an early kick which put Tybura on the back foot and after evading a series of retaliatory shots, landed an elbow and followed up with a barrage which promoted the referee to step in.

The victor climbed the cage and celebrated an impressive performance with arms aloft in front of an appreciative crowd.