UFC Heavyweight Champion Aspinall Set to Defend Title at UFC 321 Abu Dhabi

Tom Aspinall, the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, is preparing for his first title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi this October. His father and longtime coach, Andy Aspinall, has expressed a strong interest in seeing Tom transition to professional boxing, highlighting the significantly higher earnings potential compared to the UFC, where top fighters are paid far less relative to elite boxers. Andy outlined a 12-month plan that includes a possible fight in January and potentially headlining a card in England before moving toward a lucrative boxing match. Tom has prior boxing experience, including a first-round TKO victory in 2017 and training with former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury. Andy emphasized that while Tom is highly talented and among the best in the world at MMA, the financial rewards in the UFC are insufficient, and he hopes Tom can capitalize on his skills in boxing for greater financial security. The Aspinalls acknowledge the risks of MMA and suggest that once Tom has earned enough, switching to boxing could be a safer and more profitable career move.