England’s Tom Aspinall enters Saturday’s UFC 321 as the heavy favorite to retain his heavyweight title. A win over French challenger Cyril Gano would mark the first time Aspinall leaves the cage with an undisputed belt around his waist.
The 32-year-old reached the top of the division under unusual circumstances. He won and defended the UFC interim heavyweight title before being promoted to undisputed champion after American fighter Jon Jones suddenly retired in June.
“It doesn’t bother me too much. I already felt like a champion anyway,” Aspinall told Reuters. Speaking about his ideal fight against Gane in Abu Dhabi, he added: “If I had the option, it would be if I didn’t get hit at all, I’d hit the other guy and the referee would pull me off.”
Widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, Jones retired without facing Aspinall. With the Englishman already beating many of the division’s top rivals, the path seems clear for a long time.
Still, Aspinall acknowledged the unpredictability of the heavyweight division, where one punch can change the course of a fight. “Especially for heavyweights, it’s a lot easier to knock someone out at 240, 250, 260 pounds than it is at 145 pounds,” he said. “The idea is simple at heavyweight – try not to hit you and try not to get on top of you. Those are the two golden rules.”
Heavy weight prototype
Aspinall developed his style under the guidance of his father and coach Andy. He is considered the prototype of the modern UFC heavyweight division. Going into Saturday’s game, he is 1.96 meters tall and weighs 255 pounds (115.66 kg). He is a strong boxer and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His average fight in the UFC lasts just over two minutes, underscoring his ability to finish.
Against Gane, Aspinall plans to follow his usual strategy: take control early and avoid the bottom trap. “If I can win every fight in the first 10 seconds, I’ll definitely win it. That being said, I won’t be desperate. I’m always ready for five rounds,” he said.
He added: “I know what it’s like at the bottom. It’s miserable. I’ve spent hours under the big boys in training and it’s not fun. I’ll try to avoid it at all costs if I can.”
Ready for anything
Aspinall is the betting favorite to beat Gane. Stays comfortable in both hitting and anchoring situations. “If I can wear him down and end up on top, that’s probably the final position. But I’m still comfortable standing. I’m always ready for five rounds. If it takes longer, it goes longer,” he said.
For Aspinall, a win would not only cement his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion, but also mark the beginning of a reign he hopes to maintain for a long time in one of the most unpredictable divisions in MMA.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
October 24, 2025
