Mixed Martial Arts-Aspinall to defend UFC heavyweight title against Gane
The 32-year-old won the interim championship in 2023, and was promoted to undisputed status last month after the reigning champion Jon Jones retired and vacated his belt.
Aspinall, who last fought in July 2024 when he knocked out Curtis Blaydes to defend his interim belt, said it was the fourth time he had been matched up with Gane, although they have never faced off in the Octagon before.
"Me and Ciryl Gane finally signed on the dotted line," Aspinall said in an Instagram video on Wednesday. "The fourth attempt is here, and this is Ciryl's third title shot."
Former interim champion Gane lost a decision to Francis Ngannou in his first shot at the undisputed heavyweight belt in 2022, before being submitted by Jones in his second attempt to capture the title the next year.
'We're going to try and get rid of Ciryl Gane from the title picture for good.' Aspinall added. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Sha'Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles ease through 100m heats at US trials
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox EUGENE – Reigning 100m world champions Sha'Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles cruised through their opening heats at the USA Track and Field trials on July 31, as they build towards the defence of their global titles at September's World Championships. Both Richardson and Lyles have already booked their tickets to Tokyo due to their status as reigning champions, but are using this week's meeting at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, to hone their form. The charismatic Richardson finished ninth at the Prefontaine Classic at Eugene earlier in July in a modest time of 11.19 seconds. But the 25-year-old Texan indicated that she is making progress after finishing second in her heat in a time of 11.07sec, behind Kayla White in 10.89sec. Richardson's time was the 11th fastest of the opening heats, where Melissa Jefferson-Wooden impressed running 10.86sec into a 1.5m/s headwind. 'Felt amazing to run a qualifying, show fitness and take the rest of the time to get ready for Tokyo,' said Richardson, adding that she is comfortable competing while knowing that her World Championship berth is assured. 'USA is one of the hardest teams to make, so it definitely is a kind of a release of pressure knowing I have a bye. It feels really good to not have that pressure and still be able to go to Tokyo.' The American, meanwhile, is also relaxed about the fact she will head to Tokyo with other sprinters likely ahead of her in the betting stakes. 'Right now I'm cruising under the radar, but when it's time to hit – it's gonna be a bang where y'all see my name,' she added. In the men's 100m, Richardson's fellow world champion Lyles won his heat in 10.05sec, the fifth fastest time of the first round. Lyles told reporters he is using this weekend to get as much racing under his belt as possible, even though he was under no obligation to run given his bye. 'I need races – everybody knows I started the season late due to injury,' said Lyles, who was beaten in his first 100m of the season at the London Diamond League on July 19. 'I just need as many races as possible. After the 100 in London, me and my coach were like 'We might as well (race at trials)'. It's a free race, it's good competition.' Lyles, though, said he has seen encouraging signs that he is rounding back to full fitness. 'I just need more races – I've got to get the engine firing and get that urgency into my body,' he added. 'But that was just my second 100 of the year; I can't really be mad at that.' Potentially the biggest threat to Lyles could come in the shape of Kenny Bednarek, the two-time Olympic 200m silver medallist who posted the quickest time of Thursday's heats in 9.95sec. In the women's 800m, Tokyo Olympic champion Athing Mu-Nikolayev qualified for the next round second fastest in 2min 0.06sec. The meet runs from July 31 to Aug 3. AFP, REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Lyles, Richardson blaze through 100 heats at US Championships
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Olympic and world champion Noah Lyles breezed through his 100 metres heat in 10.05 at the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on Thursday before pulling out of the semi-finals to focus on the 200. With a ticket to the world championships in Tokyo on the line, Kenny Bednarek was the only man to dip under 10 seconds in the first round, posting 9.95. Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson are guaranteed spots in the men's and women's 100 at the worlds in September thanks to their triumphs at Budapest in 2023. Paris silver medallist Richardson clocked her season's best of 11.07 in the women's 100 preliminaries, with Jacious Sears leading the way with a 10.85 and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden third in 10.86. "I was running that like a final," Lyles said after his heat. "I only have one round in the 100m (and) two rounds in the 200m. I'm in plenty of shape, you know, in terms of endurance and rest and recovery." Richardson, competing in just her third race this year, said she was feeling good. "It felt amazing. Being able to compete, feeling healthy, going out there and executing no matter what (and) just being the best athlete I can be...," the 25-year-old said. "Just to run a qualifying round, show fitness and take the rest of the time to get ready for Tokyo." DeAnna Price won the women's hammer throw with a throw of 78.53 metres, while Curtis Thompson won the men's javelin. The meet runs from July 31 to August 3 at Hayward Field. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
No training wheels, no problem: 4-year-old balance bike racer cops 23 trophies in a year
Four-year-old Quinnie Tan started balance bike racing in April, 2024, and has since won 23 trophies. PHOTOS: STOMP How old were you when you learned how to ride a two-wheeled bike? For balance bike racer Quinnie Tan, that would be three years old. Quinnie, now aged four, started balance bike riding in April 2024. What initially was meant to be a fun way to ease the preschooler into riding a two-wheeled bike became a competitive sport demanding tri-weekly training sessions with a coach. She started racing a month after she started balance bike riding and has competed in 26 races, winning 23 trophies till date. "She loved the freedom and the speed, and it's become part of her daily routine," said Ms Joyce Chew, Quinnie's mother. Joyce encourages parents to let their child try balance bike riding, or any sport for that matter, as it is a character-building experience. "Sports can actually help build resilience and confidence for kids, especially in toddlers," the 37-year-old told Stomp. "When Quinnie used to fall down, she would just start crying and stop there. But eventually, with more encouragement from her parents and the community, she was eventually able to stand up and continue with a positive attitude." Quinnie training with her coach Zack. PHOTOS: STOMP During a recent race that took place from July 4 to 5 in Langawi, Malaysia, Quinnie took a hard fall just seconds after taking off from the starting line. In a video Joyce posted on Instagram, Quinnie can be seen tripping over another biker's foot, and falling onto the ground. "She picked herself up without hesitation and finished the race strong," Joyce recounted. "It wasn't about winning - it was about seeing her resilience and how she finished with a smile. "She needed to be in the top four to get to the semi-finals, and when she fell, the rest of the kids were so far away from her. She was in no-man's land. But she kept going." Despite the fall, Quinnie was able to catch up to the other racers and secured fourth place, moving into the race's semi-final round. "That moment really touched me, because even as adults we sometimes give up. Seeing my four-year-old girl pick herself up really moved me and I'm very proud of her." To Joyce, balance bike riding is more than just a sport - it's a community of people who want to uplift one another. "The community is very supportive and tight-knit. Even though the kids are technically competing with each other, other parents will still cheer for your kids, and during the races, the kids will make friends with each other," she said. Asked what she enjoys about balance bike racing, Quinnie told Stomp: "Big trophies!" As a parent, Joyce hopes the balance bike riding community in Singapore will grow. She applauds Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for trying to bring light to the sport. "The community is small right now, but as more people get exposed to the sport, I hope more kids will be able to try it," Joyce added. View the gallery for more photos of Quinnie in action. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
