A ST HELENS gym that is dedicated to improving the community has featured on a promotional video for the UFC.

Prior to the UFC 304 event in Manchester on Saturday, July 27, UFC teams filmed the competitors in the weeks leading up to the big event.

With the videos uploaded on YouTube and UFC's social media accounts, this included behind-the-scenes footage with Scouse fighters Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann, as well as Atherton's heavyweight fighter Tom Aspinall.

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As current heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been sidelined with a pectoral injury since his last fight in March 2023, Aspinall has been the division's interim champion since his defeat of Sergei Pavlovich in November.

In the lead up to UFC 304, where Aspinall took on Curtis Blaydes, the UFC media team travelled to Evolution Fitness in St Helens, where Aspinall has been training for the fight.

After Aspinall's previous bout with Blaydes ended in a serious knee injury, he spoke to the cameras in St Helens about his recovery and how he intended to grapple and defeat his American opponent.

As it happened, the Atherton heavyweight beat Blaydes with a first round knockout on Saturday night, and called out Jon Jones with a challenge to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Tom Aspinall at a Reorg session at Evolution FitnessTom Aspinall at a Reorg session at Evolution Fitness (Image: Evolution Fitness)
As well as Aspinall's personal training, the 31-year-old also uses the gym as one of the hubs for his 'Aspinall BJJ' training school, which he runs with his dad Andy and brother Joe.

Aspinall, who is described as a "really nice guy who talks to everyone", has also worked with the Evolution team on their collaboration with Reorg, a charity that helps veterans, injured ex-servicemen and first responders to use fitness and jiu jitsu as a positive outlet after life in the forces.

Strongman Eddie Hall has also used Evolution as his training gymStrongman Eddie Hall has also used Evolution as his training gym (Image: Evolution Fitness)
The Evolution team, led by founder Mike Garner, helps to improve people's health and wellbeing in St Helens and has committed to various community projects over the years.

This has included sponsoring local businesses and sports, teams, delivering presents and opening as a warm hub over Christmas, and organising classes for the Ever Evolving special needs group.