Latest news with #Aspinall
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Tom Aspinall finally reveals opponent for first defence of UFC title
Tom Aspinall will make the first defence of his undisputed UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane on October 25 in Abu Dhabi, the promotion has confirmed Tom Aspinall will defend his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. Aspinall hasn't stepped into the ring since he defended his interim heavyweight belt against Curtis Blaydes last July in Manchester. After Jon Jones successfully defended the gold belt against Stipe Miocic last November, many speculated the American would face off against Aspinall in 2025. However, 'Bones' didn't publicly commit to fighting the Brit, leading fans to demand that the American be stripped of his title. Last month, Jones announced his retirement from the sport and Aspinall was officially promoted to undisputed champion. After months of anticipation, the 32 year old now has a fight and will take on Gane in the main event at UFC 321 on October 25 in Abu Dhabi - as confirmed by UFC boss Dana White. It's been a rollercoaster few years for Gane since he suffered his first professional defeat to Francis Ngannou back in 2022. The Frenchman bounced back in his next fight against Tai Tuivasa before falling short in his second title fight against Jones, reports All Out Fighting. The 35 year old then defeated Serghei Spivac in Paris back in September 2023. After taking a year-long break, the Frenchman returned to the cage last December, taking on Alexander Volkov. Gane emerged victorious, but the bout was overshadowed by controversy after many felt the Russian had done enough to win. Gane will be seeking to become world champion in his third attempt at the undisputed title. Whilst there were doubts surrounding the French heavyweight's previous outing, the same certainly cannot be said for Aspinall - who has been on a remarkable run in the UFC. Following a crushing injury in his initial bout with Blaydes, the Brit made his comeback after a year-long absence in 2023 and stopped Marcin Tybura. He subsequently captured the interim championship just months afterwards, defeating the formidable Sergei Pavlovich in barely over a minute. It has been more than a year since supporters have witnessed the Brit compete and he will be eager to compensate for the time lost. Despite declaring his retirement, Jones disclosed merely weeks afterwards that he has rejoined the testing programme and may be eyeing the victor ahead of his possible comeback next year. 'Bones' voiced his ambition to fight on the White House card next July, but White has dismissed the notion. During Saturday evening's UFC 318 post-fight press conference, White appeared to dash Jones' ambitions to feature on the historic fight card. "I can't risk putting him (Jones) in big positions, in a big spot and have something go wrong," said White. Especially the White House card." With Jones sidelined temporarily and Miocic having hung up his gloves, many are wondering if the UFC's heavyweight division has lost its spark, but Aspinall reckons the weight class remains as thrilling as ever. Speaking to All Out Fighting last month, he declared: "Every fight is different, so even if I have beaten somebody before, it is still exciting for me to fight in. It's heavyweight MMA, so, even though it might seem a bit stagnant, as soon as the guys get active again, it will be good!". White's Tuesday evening revelation about Aspinall wasn't the only bombshell the UFC chief dropped. The American also confirmed that Merab Dvalishvili will square off against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 on 4 October in Las Vegas. Additionally on the card, Alex Pereira will attempt to reclaim his light-heavyweight crown from Magomed Ankalaev, whilst a tantalising bout at 205lbs pits Khalil Rountree against Jiri Prochazka at the same event. When is Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane? Aspinall's encounter with Gane is scheduled for October 25 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The duo's battle will top the UFC 321 pay-per-view bill. Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida will also feature at the event - apparently vying for the top heavyweight challenger position. A light-heavyweight clash between Aleksandar Rakic and Azamat Murzakanov has been confirmed, with Mitch Raposo set to face off against Azat Maksum. The remainder of the card will be revealed soon, with whispers suggesting that Islam Makhachev's super-fight with Jack Della Maddalena might be on the cards. Official start times for the fights will be announced nearer the time, but it's expected that the main event will kick off around 10pm BST.
Economic Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Economic Times
Tom Aspinall's first title defense is a monster clash with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321
Tom Aspinall face Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, confrimed by Dana Image via Getty Titanic fights have long characterized the UFC heavyweight division, and the main event of UFC 321 is expected to carry on that tradition. Former interim champion Ciryl Gane and recently crowned undisputed champion Tom Aspinall will square off in a high-stakes match at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 25. This bout has the potential to change the heavyweight ranks' power dynamics in addition to being Aspinall's first title defense. On a surge of energy, Aspinall (15-3) makes his way into the Octagon. The British powerhouse has become one of the sport's most thrilling finishers thanks to his lightning-fast hands, precise boxing, and unexpected agility for a heavyweight. He has won 12 of his 15 fights via knockout, and he hasn't advanced past the first round since early 2021. He defeated Curtis Blaydes in the first round of his most recent fight at UFC 304, a decisive victory that solidified his place as a dominant force. When then-champion Jon Jones formally announced his retirement, Aspinall was promoted from interim to undisputed champion after months of waiting for a unification fight. Though many fans wanted to see the Brit clash with Jones, the bout never materialized, making Gane the most logical and deserving next Gane (13-2), meanwhile, is no stranger to high-level French striker, who was once an interim champion himself, has demonstrated some of the most technically sophisticated stand-up in heavyweight history. He has defeated fighters like Derrick Lewis, Tai Tuivasa, and Alexander Volkov thanks to his ability to outstrike opponents with precise striking and his middleweight-like footwork and distance management. However, there have been conflicting responses to Gane's recent performances, particularly his contentious decision win over Volkov at UFC 310. Gane's grappling shortcomings have frequently been criticized, especially following his defeat by Jon Jones, who submitted him in the opening round. Aspinall, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a well-rounded style that can reveal weaknesses in the ground, might use that weakness as a major their history of animosity—Aspinall had previously charged Gane with avoiding a fight earlier this year—the two are now headed for conflict. In addition to the clash of styles, the fight has sparked a lot of interest in the MMA community because it marks the beginning of a new era in the heavyweight division following make the title picture even more intriguing, the UFC 321 card will also include a heavyweight eliminator between Jailton Almeida and Alexander Volkov as the co-main event. The winner of Aspinall vs. Gane might find themselves at the epicenter of a golden age for the division, with contenders circling and a new generation of heavyweights emerging. Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane provides all the elements that fans desire in a sport that thrives on the unexpected: strength, skill, story, and repercussion. The main event of UFC 321 might be remembered as one of the pivotal bouts of 2025, regardless of whether it ends in a vicious finish or a five-round chess match.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tom Aspinall's first title defense is a monster clash with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321
Titanic fights have long characterized the UFC heavyweight division , and the main event of UFC 321 is expected to carry on that tradition. Former interim champion Ciryl Gane and recently crowned undisputed champion Tom Aspinall will square off in a high-stakes match at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 25. This bout has the potential to change the heavyweight ranks' power dynamics in addition to being Aspinall's first title defense. On a surge of energy, Aspinall (15-3) makes his way into the Octagon. The British powerhouse has become one of the sport's most thrilling finishers thanks to his lightning-fast hands, precise boxing, and unexpected agility for a heavyweight. He has won 12 of his 15 fights via knockout, and he hasn't advanced past the first round since early 2021. He defeated Curtis Blaydes in the first round of his most recent fight at UFC 304, a decisive victory that solidified his place as a dominant force. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing Data Science Others healthcare Public Policy Operations Management Design Thinking MCA Cybersecurity Product Management MBA PGDM others CXO Data Analytics Management Healthcare Leadership Project Management Finance Data Science Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details When then-champion Jon Jones formally announced his retirement, Aspinall was promoted from interim to undisputed champion after months of waiting for a unification fight. Though many fans wanted to see the Brit clash with Jones, the bout never materialized, making Gane the most logical and deserving next opponent. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cargo Ship Meets Pirates - Watch What the Captain Does Next! Tips and Tricks Undo Ciryl Gane (13-2), meanwhile, is no stranger to high-level competition. The French striker, who was once an interim champion himself, has demonstrated some of the most technically sophisticated stand-up in heavyweight history. He has defeated fighters like Derrick Lewis, Tai Tuivasa, and Alexander Volkov thanks to his ability to outstrike opponents with precise striking and his middleweight-like footwork and distance management. However, there have been conflicting responses to Gane's recent performances, particularly his contentious decision win over Volkov at UFC 310. Live Events Gane's grappling shortcomings have frequently been criticized, especially following his defeat by Jon Jones, who submitted him in the opening round. Aspinall, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a well-rounded style that can reveal weaknesses in the ground, might use that weakness as a major weapon. Despite their history of animosity—Aspinall had previously charged Gane with avoiding a fight earlier this year—the two are now headed for conflict. In addition to the clash of styles, the fight has sparked a lot of interest in the MMA community because it marks the beginning of a new era in the heavyweight division following Jones. To make the title picture even more intriguing, the UFC 321 card will also include a heavyweight eliminator between Jailton Almeida and Alexander Volkov as the co-main event. The winner of Aspinall vs. Gane might find themselves at the epicenter of a golden age for the division, with contenders circling and a new generation of heavyweights emerging. Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane provides all the elements that fans desire in a sport that thrives on the unexpected: strength, skill, story, and repercussion. The main event of UFC 321 might be remembered as one of the pivotal bouts of 2025, regardless of whether it ends in a vicious finish or a five-round chess match.
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Tom Aspinall to defend heavyweight title at UFC 321 vs. Ciryl Gane
The top of the heavyweight division is finally moving again. Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will defend his title for the first time as the undisputed holder when he takes on Ciryl Gane in the UFC 321 headliner. The event takes place Oct. 25 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The promotion announced the fight Tuesday. It'll be nearly 15 months between fights for Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who waited patiently on the sidelines as interim champion while the promotion tried to wrangle then-heavyweight champion Jon Jones into a highly anticipated showdown. After months of talk and public confusion, Jones retired and Aspinall was named champion. The fight will be Aspinall's third UFC title fight, already holding interim title wins over Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes. Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) returned from a 14 month layoff in December when he won a highly-controversial decision over Alexander Volkov. The win was his second in a row and third in most recent four fights. With the addition, the UFC 321 lineup includes:
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Nathan Aspinall wants huge change to darts calendar including Ryder Cup-style tournament as he pitches incredible format
NATHAN ASPINALL has dropped a bombshell proposal to add a Ryder Cup-style tournament to the ever-growing darts calendar. Aspinall, 34, made a bold pitch to the PDC as he spoke of his desire to launch a new darts event that is similar to golf's cross Atlantic competition between Europe and the United States. Advertisement 1 Nathan Aspinall has called for a rule change that could have seen him unable to compete Speaking to , the world No.7 said: 'One change I would make is having a Ryder Cup-style tournament. You could do the UK against the rest of the world. 'You've got all the Dutch players, all the Germans, the likes of Damon Heta and people like that. 'You could do triples, pairs, and singles matches, it would be mega for players and fans. 'If you did it somewhere like in the centre of Germany , and change every year, you could probably sell a 30,000 seater stadium comfortably, and it would create some atmosphere. Advertisement READ MORE DARTS 'I think you've seen from the World Cup that you have to gel as a team. 'You saw with Josh Rock and Darryl Gurney, and Gerwyn Price and Johnny Clayton, they clearly did gel, and that's why they made the finals. 'The only issue is that there is that much going on in darts at the moment, I think the PDC is going to leave it as it is for now. You never know, in the future it might be something that they look into.' darts over the years, winning the World Matchplay in 2023 and landing the spoils in the UK Open in 2019. Advertisement Most read in Darts Exclusive CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The two-time World Championship semi-finalist has also become a Premier League regular. But 'The Asp' also confessed how he no longer enjoys darts all that much, seeing it as simply a job. Darts legend Bobby George sends stark message to Luke Littler as he warns sensation he can 'go from hero to zero quick' Aspinall said: 'I'm not a big darts fan anymore. I don't sit at home when I'm not playing and watch it. Advertisement 'I didn't watch the World Cup, for example. If I'm out of the tournament, I won't go back to my house and see who wins. 'I treat it as my job now, and I'm here to make as much money as I can Aspinall 'Everyone thinks it's all roses and you travel to these amazing places, which we do, but it's very lonely. 'I spent five days in New York on my own and was so bored. I'm missing a wedding next month because I'm in Keel, so I'll miss a lot of family time and key events. But I'm the one who has to make the sacrifices so my family can have a good life. 'I treat it as my job now, and I'm here to make as much money as I can. It's about giving my family the best life I can, which basically means I do it for the money. Advertisement 'I want to win trophies and win titles, but first and foremost, I want to win as much money as I can so my family can have a great life, that's my main drive and my motivation. 'If you're treating it as a passion and as a hobby, I don't think there's any pressure on you to win because you're just enjoying yourself, so it's harder for me. I don't like losing, and I know that if I turn up to work and don't perform, I'm not making any money, so there's big pressure.' List of all-time Darts World Champions BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year. The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions. That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once - Barney also won four BDO titles - and none of Eric Bristow's five BDO titles are included. 1994 - Dennis Priestley 1995 - Phil Taylor 1996 - Phil Taylor (2) 1997 - Phil Taylor (3) 1998 - Phil Taylor (4) 1999 - Phil Taylor (5) 2000 - Phil Taylor (6) 2001 - Phil Taylor (7) 2002 - Phil Taylor (8) 2003 - John Part 2004 - Phil Taylor (9) 2005 - Phil Taylor (10) 2006 - Phil Taylor (11) 2007 - Raymond van Barneveld 2008 - John Part (2) 2009 - Phil Taylor (12) 2010 - Phil Taylor (13) 2011 - Adrian Lewis 2012 - Adrian Lewis (2) 2013 - Phil Taylor (14) 2014 - Michael van Gerwen 2015 - Gary Anderson 2016 - Gary Anderson (2) 2017 - Michael van Gerwen (2) 2018 - Rob Cross 2019 - Michael van Gerwen (3) 2020 - Peter Wright 2021 - Gerwyn Price 2022 - Peter Wright (2) 2023 - Michael Smith 2024 - Luke Humphries 2025 - Luke Littler Most World Titles 14 - Phil Taylor 3 - Michael van Gerwen 2 - John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright 1 - Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler
