Tom Aspinall Defends UFC Heavyweight Title Against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi

Tom Aspinall is set to defend his undisputed UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, with the fight marking Aspinall's first official defense after being elevated to undisputed champion following Jon Jones' retirement. Aspinall boasts a remarkable finishing record, having never gone beyond the second round in his MMA career and finishing his last three fights in just over three minutes combined, leading to confidence that he will quickly dispatch Gane despite the latter's hopes to drag the fight into the later rounds or "deep waters." Ciryl Gane, known for his technical striking and durability, aims to use his conditioning and distance management to outlast Aspinall, but Aspinall and his teammates dismiss this strategy, warning that those who mention "deep waters" have historically been knocked out early. Tensions have emerged in the lead-up to the fight, with Gane criticizing Aspinall's pre-fight tactic of placing his hands on opponents' shoulders as "stupid," a move that even angered former champion Jon Jones. Despite the psychological games and bold predictions from both camps, Aspinall remains focused and prepared, acknowledging Gane's striking skills but confident in his own finishing ability and training. The bout is highly anticipated as a clash between Aspinall's aggressive, fast-finishing style and Gane's measured, technical approach.