Latest news with #TomAspinall
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mailbag: Is Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane one big letdown after our hopes for a Jon Jones fight?
Did Dustin Poirier let fans down in his final fight against Max Holloway at UFC 318? And how excited are we for Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane after expecting something much different? All that and more in this week's mailbag. To ask a question of your own, hit up @benfowlkesmma. @GabeDert: Holloway points down Dusty p doesn't get down And for the kind of fighter he was.. What the heck man How can we feel about that? I think we can understand. Can't we? Poirier told our own Ariel Helwani that part of it was feeling like he was falling behind the speedier Holloway in those exchanges, but also it was partly an impulse toward self-preservation. Yes, he wanted to win and go out on top with a BMF belt on his shoulder. But either way it was his last fight, and it might always only take one good punch to change your quality of life in retirement. I know fighters with plates and screws in their faces, nerve damage and cracked bones, stuff they still wince at when they roll out of bed. When you know it's the end regardless, how can you not think about how it's going to feel in the morning? At the same time, once you start thinking like that, it's probably time to go. Which, of course, is the same conclusion Poirier had already arrived at. @Beastin364: So it's really Tom v Gane for the heavyweight title next? I guess it makes sense and all but am I alone in being super disappointed? Nope, it's a letdown. UFC CEO Dana White spent much of the past six months assuring us, don't worry, he'd get a fight done between Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones. It was the only fight to make for the UFC heavyweight title. Turns out, nah, it was never really a possibility. Jones wanted none of it. After that, anything else (short of a Francis Ngannou return) was bound to feel like a disappointment. Aspinall vs. Gane is a fine fight. Just … fine. By the time we get there, we might even be excited for it. But it's hard to ignore that there were two monster fights on the horizon at the start of this year: Aspinall vs. Jones and Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria. So far, the UFC has turned zero of them into realities. And that's a bummer, man. @lyingawakezzz: Do you think Jon Jones lies awake at night wishing he received the send off Dustin Poirier got? Not yet. I think right now he still thinks that sendoff might be forthcoming. He's unretired (kind of) and back in the testing pool (allegedly), remember? But I did see Khabib Nurmagomedov this week saying that there's a difference between achievement and legacy. When it comes to achievement in this sport, he noted, Jones is at the top. But legacy? That hazier question of how people see you and what they say about you and whether or not they'd want their kids to be like you some day? That's a different story. And with Jones, right now it really feels like the MMA world is sick of this guy and glad to be rid of him — for now. @jmprobus: The year is 2050. A 1/4 century has passed, the current UFC regime is gone and the future regime has taken over. What does the landscape of the UFC and MMA, as a whole, look like? I assume it's all slap-fighting robots on the desolate plains of New Texas. The real fighting will be done on a barge anchored in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Phoenix. And somehow Derrick Lewis will still be a draw there. @shonplant: Señor Ben no joke I'm going on a family trip to Montana this summer, any recommendations? We got a car and can drive anywhere in the state Everyone is going to tell you to head up and see Glacier National Park. Which, yeah, it's glorious. I do recommend it (though crowds in summer can be an issue). But one of my personal favorite drives is along Highway 200 from Missoula to Great Falls. You coast through Lincoln, where the Unabomber's cabin was, then along the majestic views of the Rocky Mountain front, and finally into the Montana city that's home to an Air Force base and a disturbing stockpile of nuclear missiles. Don't pay too much attention to that, though. Instead, go to the Sip & Dip Lounge to see the (literal) mermaids waving to you from behind the bar. Tell them I send my fondest regards.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
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: Champion Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane – for heavyweight title This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 321: Tom Aspinall finally returns vs. Ciryl Gane
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Tom Aspinall reacts to Ciryl Gane fight as first undisputed title defence is confirmed
Tom Aspinall has said he intends to 'get rid of' Ciryl Gane from the UFC heavyweight title picture, when he defends the belt against the Frenchman in October. Tuesday (22 July) brought the announcement that Aspinall will make his first undisputed-title defence in the main event of UFC 321, finally taking on European rival Gane. The pair have been linked numerous times in recent years, with Gane and the Briton occupying top rankings in the division. Gane, 35, won the interim belt in 2021 but failed to unify the titles with then-champion Francis Ngannou in January 2022, while Aspinall claimed the interim strap in November 2023 and never got the chance to face fellow title-holder Jon Jones. Jones's recent retirement saw Aspinall, 32, elevated to undisputed champion, almost a year after he took the rare decision to defend the interim belt – which he retained against Curtis Blaydes in Manchester. Now, the Wigan fighter prepares to defend the undisputed title for the first time, in Abu Dhabi on 25 October. 'Finally we're back, after over a year hiatus,' Aspinall said in an Instagram video on Wednesday (23 July). 'Me and Ciryl finally signed on the dotted line. 'This is the fourth time we've been matched up together. He turned the fight early on, before we were both in the rankings. 'After that, he fought Spivac [in 2023]. I said in a post-fight interview after I beat [Marcin] Tybura: 'I'm going to go to Paris, I'm going to be sat front row for Ciryl Gane against Serghei Spivac, I'm gonna beat the winner, and then I'm gonna beat Jon Jones.' I went to Paris, Ciryl unfortunately turned down the fight on a second occasion. 'The third occasion, I fought Curtis Blaydes. The original opponent was Ciryl Gane. Unfortunately, Ciryl was busy that date. Ciryl was filming his Netflix series. I can't remember what it's called, but I'm sure you can check it out now on Netflix. 'And now we are matched up for 25 October, Abu Dhabi. Me and Ciryl, the fourth attempt is here, and this is Ciryl's third title shot. So, we are going to try and get rid of Ciryl Gane from the title picture for good.' Aspinall's last fight was his first-round knockout of Blaydes in July 2024, as he avenged an injury-induced loss to the American from 2022. Meanwhile, Gane's last outing was a controversial fight with Alexander Volkov in December, when the Frenchman outpointed the Russian for the second time, though many fans and pundits disagreed with the scoring. Gane's previous two undisputed-title fights were his points loss to Ngannou, and his first-round submission loss to Jones in 2023. The latter result saw Jones, the consensus greatest light-heavyweight ever, win the vacant heavyweight title. Jones was then due to defend the belt against divisional great Stipe Miocic in November 2023, but he suffered an injury that delayed the bout by 12 months. On the night they were first due to fight, Aspinall instead faced Sergei Pavlovich, knocking him out in round one to become interim champion. Aspinall then retained the interim strap against Blaydes before Jones, 38, stopped Miocic, 42, last November. Jones never committed to fighting Aspinall in a unification bout, and ultimately the American retired last month.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tom Aspinall FINALLY has next UFC fight announced after Jon Jones saga, with British star headlining UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi
Tom Aspinall can finally move on after months of will-they-won't-they with Jon Jones. The British UFC star will take on Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on October 25 - an opponent he's now been matched with four times. Aspinall has not been in action since July last year when he finished Curtis Blaydes in the first round of their clash in Manchester. He's been repeatedly calling out Jones, who still possessed the heavyweight belt after beating Stipe Miocic. And Dana White was hugely confident that showdown would happen but the controversial American then announced his retirement. The UFC and Aspinall are ready to move on and the 32-year-old, who has been promoted to full champion from interim title holder, wants to establish his own legacy now. After White announced the fight, Aspinall took to social media, saying: 'Finally we're back after a year hiatus. 'Me and Ciryl finally signed on the dotted line. This is the fourth time we've been lined up together. He turned down the fight early on when we were both low down in the rankings. 'After that he fought Spivac, I said in a post-fight interview after I beat Tybura, "I'm going to go to Paris and be front row for Gane vs Spivac, I'm going to beat the winner and then I'm going to beat Jon Jones". 'I went to Paris, Ciryl unfortunately turned it down on a second occasion. The third time, I fought Curtis Blayes, Ciryl was supposed to be the opponent but was busy that date filming his Netflix series - I can't remember what it was called but I'm sure you can check it out now on Netflix. 'Now we're matched up in Abu Dhabi, me and Ciryl, the fourth attempt is here and this is Ciryl's third title shot so we are trying to get rid of Ciryl Gane from the title picture for good.' No doubt Aspinall is relishing the chance to put the Jones saga behind him but the controversial American is still slightly muddying the waters. Jones commented on a post on Instagram which depicted him fighting - and beating - Aspinall at the White House, with the British star left on the floor while Jones sat triumphantly. In response, the 37-year-old wrote: 'I like this'. And two weeks after calling time on his career he said he had reentered the drug testing pool. 'Fighting at the White House?' Jones posted on X. 'Just re-entered the testing pool, that lasted for about two weeks. Figured we'd keep everyone's options open.' But when asked if he would feature Jones on the White House card - which was teased by Donald Trump and later confirmed by Dana White for next year, the UFC president said he would not trust Jones. 'It's not even about him winning the belt,' White told reporters at the UFC 318 post-fight press conference. And the legendary fighter, who has missed other fights due to legal issues and drug suspensions, said on Sunday that he was 'disappointed' with White's remarks. 'I heard the comments made at last night's press conference. While I was a little disappointed, I'm still in the UFC's drug testing pool, staying sharp, and continuing to train like a professional. I'll be ready for whatever comes next,' Jones wrote on X. 'In a recent interview, I shared that the opportunity to fight at the White House gave me something deeper to fight for, a 'why' that goes beyond paychecks or belts. Fighting for my country gives me a greater purpose! 'The silver lining in all this is knowing the fans see my heart. They see, I am ready and willing to take on anyone, to represent my country on a historic stage. For me, it's never been just about the opponent. I'm chasing legacy, something timeless, something bigger than the moment,' he continued. 'So for now, I'll keep grinding, stay patient, and stay faithful. I'm ready to fight on July 4th.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Aspinall to defend undisputed title against Gane
Britain's Tom Aspinall will make the first defence of his undisputed heavyweight title against France's Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on 25 32, was upgraded to champion of the division last month when former title holder Jon Jones retired and vacated his spent 19 months as interim champion but an undisputed title showdown with Jones failed to materialise. The fight with 35-year-old Gane will come 15 months after Aspinall's last outing, where he defended his interim title against Curtis a post confirming the contest with Gane on Instagram, Aspinall wrote "time to remind 'em". Manchester's Aspinall repeatedly called for an undisputed title fight with Jones after winning the interim belt in November 2023, but the American remained instead defended his belt against fellow countryman Stipe Miocic in November, leaving Aspinall to wait for a potential bout, before retiring seven months is Britain's first UFC heavyweight champion and has won eight of his nine fights in the promotion, with his wins all coming via is a former UFC interim heavyweight champion but has twice suffered defeat fighting for the undisputed title - against Francis Ngannou in 2022, and against Jones the following last fought against Russia's Alexander Volkov in December, winning by split decision in an unconvincing making his UFC debut in 2019, Gane has won 10 of his 12 bouts.
