LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 27: Michael Aswell reacts after the conclusion of a featherweight combat towards Bogdan Grad of Romania throughout Dana White’s Contender Sequence season eight, week three on August 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Document: 9-2
Age: 24
Peak: 5’8″
Weight: Featherweight
Birthplace: Houston
Subsequent combat: Dec. 15 vs. Dorian Ramos (8-2) at Fury FC 99 in Houston (UFC Struggle Cross)
Background: A life-long athlete, Michael Aswell was launched to Saul Soliz’s fitness center for jiu-jitsu courses in eighth grade. He began competing round Texas, then picked up wrestling in highschool. Weighing 205-210 kilos, Aswell burned off 60 kilos forward of his newbie debut at featherweight at age 17. He misplaced that combat however then received 5 extra earlier than he turned skilled. He received his first seven professional fights earlier than a loss to present UFC fighter Yadier del Valle. Aswell received two after that, together with a Fury FC title bout. These earned him a crack on Dana White’s Contender Sequence in 2024. Whereas he didn’t win the bout or a contract, his gutsy efficiency had the UFC CEO praising Aswell and saying he was on the brief record. One other win ought to push him via the door.
In his personal phrases: “In my head, I’ve simply been staying prepared in case a chance fell out. That MSG card got here into fruition, the Onama combat, it was all the pieces that I believed. I used to be prepared and will make weight. I might make 145 and I believed I used to be subsequent up, however I by no means obtained the decision. In my head, I used to be like, ‘If I didn’t get that decision, I don’t suppose I’m going to get one other one.’ … I simply want to remain lively and keep prepared. As quickly as that occurred, I referred to as (Fury FC promoter) Eric Garcia and was like, ‘Yo Eric, I want a combat. What will we obtained obtainable?’
“… I discovered in my Contender combat that I want to remain extra lively and alter it up just a little bit, throw extra variations, add some low kicks or add extra physique punches or simply kicks generally. I feel for me simply being extra inventive on the market (will assist). It was an enormous alternative and an enormous stage and I didn’t need to mess up. I believed perhaps I used to be simply holding again a bit as a result of I didn’t need to mess up. I stored it quite simple. That’s on me. I simply have gotten to be proactive and add extra energy pictures as an alternative of touches. There are a whole lot of issues.
“… I’ve recognized (I’m prepared) for some time. I’ve skilled with the perfect since I used to be an newbie. I had coach Saul Soliz as my coach after I began within the MMA recreation. That man would inform you straight up in the event you had it otherwise you don’t. He instructed me I had it and he mentioned if I stored working I used to be going to get it. As soon as he handed, I went to Kansas Metropolis and I used to be coaching with Glory for a bit earlier than all of the stuff occurred. They’d 10 UFC guys within the room and I used to be competing with them. Onama, I used to be actually coaching with Onama daily. We had been coaching companions in that room for months and he preferred the way in which I labored.”
