How a UFC heavyweight champion turns fear into fuel

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

June 26, 2025

Duration

2h 11m

Channel

The Diary of a CEO

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

BREAKING: Tom Aspinall becomes the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion. He reveals the truth about Jon Jones’ retirement, and breaks down the champion mindset, fear, and mental toughness required for UFC title fights. Tom explains: ◽️The mental trick he uses to control fear before stepping into the cage. ◽️ Why so many young men feel lost, and how MMA gave him purpose. ◽️ The harsh reality of life as a UFC fighter behind the scenes. ◽️How embracing pain, pressure, and adversity made him a champion. ⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:52 Did You See This Coming? 03:31 What Was Your Reaction When You Found Out Jon Jones Was Retiring? 04:23 Did You Want to Fight Jon? 05:21 Was Jon's Decision a Strategic Dodge? 06:23 Do You Take It as a Compliment? 07:29 Would You Fight Jon If He Came Back? 08:51 What's Changed Overnight? 10:43 Who's the Contender Now? 11:48 When Will You Fight Next? 14:02 What Was Your Family's Reaction? 15:29 If Jon Is Watching, What Would You Say? 17:48 The Dream to Become a Heavyweight Champion 18:32 Where Does Tom Aspinall Come From? 19:45 Where Did Your Inspiration Come From? 22:02 What Kept You Going? 24:46 Why Did Your Mum Never Come to an MMA Fight? 26:40 What Advice Would You Give to Young People? 29:49 I'm Scared to Fight Anybody 32:03 I've Always Been Fearful to Fight 33:05 Overcoming the Fear 35:37 Working on Your Mental Strength 37:57 Tom's Process of Writing Things Down 41:30 Very Few Make Money Fighting 44:22 Tom Aspinall's Career Progression and Fighting Style 48:41 When Do You Start Making Good Money? 50:08 Sergei Pavlovich Fight 51:17 It Takes Years to Become an Overnight Success 52:42 Having Kids at 23 and Not Being Able to Support Them 57:19 Your Rock Bottom Moment 58:45 Tom's Family 01:01:57 Ads 1:03:05 My Knee Problems Helped My Career Growth Massively 1:06:30 Surrounded by Toxic People 1:09:54 How Did You Feel After the Injury? 1:12:07 Did It Knock Your Confidence? 1:13:40 Jon Jones 1:17:48 There's No Contract Signed 1:24:06 Tom's Fighting Secrets 1:26:24 The Health Routine to Get Into Elite Shape 01:30:07 Ads 1:32:10 Why Do You Do Hypnotherapy? 1:35:34 Your Journey With Anxiety 1:38:28 Your Son's Health 1:39:16 Having an Autistic Child 1:48:25 The Importance of an Autism Diagnosis 1:53:46 The UFC Heavyweight Champion Belt 1:54:41 How Did You Feel When You Won the Heavyweight Championship? 1:56:26 Retiring Early to Avoid Cognitive Issues 2:01:52 Why Are You Special? 2:04:57 How I Prepare Mentally on Fight Day Get your hands on the Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards here: ⁠https://bit.ly/conversationcards-mp⁠ Follow Tom: Instagram - ⁠https://bit.ly/4kbCZGh⁠ YouTube - ⁠https://bit.ly/4lhLwbO⁠ Get email updates: ⁠https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt⁠ Follow Steven: ⁠https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb⁠ Sponsors: Vanta - https://vanta.com/steven KetoneIQ - Visit https://ketone.com/STEVEN for 30% off your subscription order

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Tom Aspinall

  guest

• Steven Bartlett

  host

• Narrator

  other

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of The Diary of a CEO, featuring Tom Aspinall and Steven Bartlett, How a UFC heavyweight champion turns fear into fuel explores tom Aspinall: Fear, Family, Autism, And Becoming UFC Heavyweight King Tom Aspinall, newly confirmed as the UFC’s undisputed heavyweight champion, reflects on Jon Jones’ retirement, his own rise, and why he was always chasing the belt rather than a single opponent.

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