The heavyweight scene in the UK has often been scarce. Parkin says he turned pro because he struggled for opponents in the amateur ranks.
But recent years have seen two key men emerge and find success in very different factions.
Manchester fighter Aspinall, 31, shot through the UFC ranks and is now the number one heavyweight contender in the UFC, waiting for his shot at champion and legend Jon Jones.
Sunderland’s De Fries, 38, is one of KSW’s biggest star. He is the European promotion powerhouse’s most dominant champion with eleven successful defences since 2018.
Parkin sits number 13 in the UFC’s rankings. He fights number eight contender Marcin Tybura at UFC London on Saturday.
The heavyweight division, not unlike boxing, continues to dominate attention in the UFC.
The scene is primed for another heavyweight to step up and under the tutelage of Aspinall and De Fries, Parkin could be that fighter.
But that doesn’t mean Parkin has any aspirations to fight Aspinall in the future, quite the opposite.
“I wouldn’t want to fight him. He’s my friend, but I was hoping by the time I got there he’d be completely done, and maybe hopefully get this Jon Jones fight and get loads of money and retire,” Parkin says.
“But I’m still loads of fights off that yet, and like, unless it was for crazy money, I just wouldn’t want to fight him, really.
“I’m 13th ranked now. I know I’m fighting eighth but there’s still potentially 15 guys I have to beat to even get there.”
“I think Tybura had like 20 odd UFC fights,” Parkin adds.
“So you kind of can’t be not good having 20 UFC fights, you know. I do think I’m probably better than him. I do believe that.”
