Will Time Off Benefit or Hinder Tom Aspinall in UFC 321 Clash with Ciryl Gane?
Toronto, Ontario, will play host this weekend to UFC 321, marking the return of Tom Aspinall, the reigning heavyweight champion. Aspinall is set to defend his title against Ciryl Gane in a highly anticipated matchup.
Will Time Off Benefit or Hinder Tom Aspinall in UFC 321 Clash with Ciryl Gane?
It has been more than 450 days since Aspinall last fought. The 32-year-old from England has faced delays in his career, including a lengthy attempt to arrange a title unification bout against Jon Jones. Despite the buzz surrounding a clash between Aspinall and Jones, the fight never occurred. Jones announced his retirement unexpectedly, allowing Aspinall to solidify his reign as undisputed heavyweight champion.
Aspinall’s Impressive Record and Skillset
- Aspinall holds a professional MMA record of 15 wins and 3 losses.
- He boasts a 100% finishing rate, with 12 knockouts and 3 submissions.
- His average fight time is just 2:02, the shortest in UFC history.
- He has achieved perfect takedown accuracy and defense.
- Aspinall lands an average of 8.07 significant strikes per minute, ranking third all-time in the UFC.
- His striking differential rate of 5.18 is the highest in UFC history.
Aspinall’s path has not been without setbacks. His two significant losses, aside from a submission early in his career, include a disqualification and a fluke knee injury against Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall avenged that knee injury with a decisive technical knockout in just 60 seconds during their rematch at UFC 304.
Ciryl Gane’s Title Challenge
Ciryl Gane, a 35-year-old former kickboxer, is a formidable opponent. He has competed for the UFC title three times, winning an interim championship in 2021. However, his record since then includes two losses, notably a quick submission by Jones in a title fight earlier this year.
Gane is currently seen as a significant underdog, with oddsmakers placing him at approximately three-to-one against Aspinall. Despite this, Gane possesses exceptional striking abilities, known for his finesse and footwork.
Training and Preparation
Aspinall has been sharpening his skills alongside world heavyweight kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, who praises his potential. Verhoeven emphasizes Aspinall’s explosive strength and superior striking talent.
In preparation for UFC 321, Gane stated he has been preparing intensively since March. He acknowledges the challenges posed by Aspinall’s well-rounded skills.
Fight Night Details
UFC 321 will occur at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The event showcases several notable matchups, including a title eliminator between Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida. The co-main event features a rematch for the vacant women’s strawweight title between Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern.
Projected Bout Order
| Fight | Weight Class |
|---|---|
| Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane | Heavyweight Title |
| Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern | Women’s Strawweight Title |
| Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista | Bantamweight |
| Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida | Heavyweight Title Eliminator |
| Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov | Light Heavyweight |
| Nasrat Haqparast vs. Quillan Salkilld | Lightweight |
| Ikram Aliskerov vs. Park Jun-yong | Middleweight |
| Ludovit Klein vs. Mateusz Rebecki | Lightweight |
| Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo | Featherweight |
| Valter Walker vs. Louie Sutherland | Featherweight |
| Nathaniel Wood vs. Jose Delgado | Featherweight |
| Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Chris Barnett | Heavyweight |
| Azat Maksum vs. Mitch Raposo | Flyweight |
| Jaqueline Amorim vs. Mizuki Inoue | Strawweight |
With the stakes high, UFC 321 promises to deliver an exciting night of fights, showcasing the resilience and talent of both Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane as they vie for the heavyweight title.
