UFC champion Tom Aspinall is in a 'tough spot' vs. Ciryl Gane, says Din Thomas
Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) waited for over a year for his title-unification bout with Jon Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) to materialize, but Jones eventually retired and relinquished the championship. As a result, Aspinall was promoted as undisputed champion and will meet Ciryl Gane in the UFC 321 headliner Oct. 25 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Thomas says Aspinall has to top Jones' performance against Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC), where he needed just over two minutes to submit him at UFC 285.
"I have to assume this is a nerve-racking spot for Tom Aspinall because he talked himself into a position, and we've all talked him into a position, where he's the best guy," Thomas told MMA Junkie. "Jon dismissed him and dismissed him and dismissed him. Then Jon dispatched of Ciryl Gane.
"So anything less than a first-round finish is going to be almost a disappointment for Tom Aspinall. Even a close win is going to be like, 'See, I told you, I beat that guy in seconds.' This is actually a pretty tough spot for Tom. If this fight had happened earlier it might be different, but this is a tough spot for Tom."
With Jones already claiming he's out of retirement and wants to compete on next year's White House event, Thomas urges Aspinall to capitalize if he can get past Gane.
"Fighters always think they're more important than they are," Thomas said. "We'll get to find out how important he really is. But a win here can really make him important. A big win against Ciryl Gane in Abu Dhabi and he grabs that mic, that's going to be the most important minute of his entire life. To be like, 'Yo, I just beat the guy that you beat, I beat him in two minutes and two seconds, and now I want to fight Jon Jones at the White House.' It's written. ...It doesn't matter if it happens or not. It doesn't matter.
"But the idea of him saying that. Just attaching himself, further attaching himself, to the situation. Now there's no denying. Now what would Jon Jones' rebuttal be. Now he can't say anything. That's the biggest thing. Even if the fight doesn't happen and Tom Aspinall goes on his run. If I'm Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones dismisses me, I'm going on a run. I'm beating up Derrick Lewis. I'm going after Jailton Almeida. I'm going after all these guys and create my won lane. But to say that to Jon Jones would be the nail in the coffin to me to Jon Jones' rebuttals."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
23 minutes ago
- USA Today
Dustin Poirier's charity gives away more than 1,200 backpacks to school students
Dustin Poirier is keeping busy after his UFC retirement. Longtime veteran lightweight Poirier retired from MMA competition in July following a unanimous decision loss to Max Holloway in their trilogy bout at UFC 319 in New Orleans. Poirier (30-10 MMA, 22-9 UFC) got a dream final fight scenario in his home state of Louisiana, and he received a heavy dosage of support throughout fight week and in the aftermath. Much of that support has been a product of Poirier having such close ties to his community, especially in Lafayette. "The Diamond" has been acknowledged with awards for his charitable deeds during his career, and things haven't changed after hanging up the gloves. On Tuesday, Poirier and his The Good Fight Foundation hosted its annual Back to School Supply Drive, with more than 1,200 backpacks containing school supplies and more were distributed to those in need. Check out a video recap of the event below (via Instagram): In the wake of his loss to Holloway at UFC 318, Poirier told MMA Junkie that continuing his work with The Good Fight Foundation would be a priority. He will have to find alternative means to shine a light on its efforts outside of what was produced by his fights, but the turn around for the Back to School Supply Drive showed him growth is still happening. "It's got bigger and bigger every year," Poirier said. "It wouldn't get done without the whole community."
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Anthony Hernandez 'still not really sold' on Khamzat Chimaev before UFC 319
Anthony Hernandez thinks Khamzat Chimaev is still unproven heading into his first UFC title fight. Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) challenges middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in the UFC 319 headliner on Aug. 16 from United Center in Chicago (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Chimaev is the betting favorite heading into his fight with Du Plessis, who holds wins over former champions Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. However, Hernandez isn't ready to buy into the undefeated phenom's hype just yet. "I think DDP is going to shock the world again," Hernandez told MMA Junkie. "He's a big, tough, awkward motherf*cker, and I'm still not really sold on Khamzat. I understand he's good, and he's dangerous, yada yada, but he's kind of fought all small guys who have come up. (Kamaru) Usman gave him a run for his money off the couch, so how does he do with somebody that's like a real 85'er?" Hernandez (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) will look to enter the middleweight title picture when he takes on Roman Dolidze (15-3 MMA, 9-3) in Saturday's UFC on ESPN 72 (ESPN, ESPN+) main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Khamzat Chimaev addresses Dricus Du Plessis 'weird' style, UFC 319 pre-fight trash talk
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Khamzat Chimaev isn't too concerned with how UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis looks while fighting inside the cage. While many have found Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) to have an awkward style, Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) knows how effective it can be. After all, it led him to the peak of the UFC's 185-pound division. Chimaev will get his opportunity to see how different his style first hand when they clash inside the cage in the main event of UFC 319 in Chicago. "Everyone says he has a weird style, very weird – that's MMA, MMA style," Chimaev told reporters at a media day. "I don't think he's some crazy, weird (fighter), but he does his job. He does good and he's a good fighter. I am better." Chimaev has proven to be one of the biggest problems in the division, but he, too, is not without criticism. If a fight makes it out of the first round, where Chimaev has finished five of his eight bouts, questions about his cardio have risen due to his performances in decision wins against Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman. It's an issue that Chimaev and team have focused on leading into his first shot at UFC gold by bringing in a new strength and conditioning coach. His head coach, Joakim Karlsson, said Chimaev's cardio is on a different level now. The early aggression from Chimaev could dictate the outcome of the fight. He intends to get Du Plessis to the canvas to find out how he will deal with his grappling game that led to finishes of former champ Robert Whittaker and contenders such as Kevin Holland and Li Jingliang. "When someone laying down on the mats, it's how weird you are on the ground," Chimaev said. "Ground and pound, submissions – they don't care about your style. We will see. We'll be happy to see him in the cage. We will fight him striking, wrestling, grappling. I want to know how he can handle it." Karlsson not only said Chimaev's cardio is vastly improved, but he has also taken training overall more seriously ahead of UFC 319. The fight promotion side of the game has been apparent on social media as well, as Chimaev and Du Plessis have gone back and forth trading barbs online. For Chimaev, it's all business, and if it ruffles the champ's feathers, then so be it. "We're just making money, having fun," Chimaev said. "If he wants to take it personally, it's up to him. For me, it's just work. It makes people happy, it makes me happy. Like I said before, beating somebody makes me happy."
