MMA News

Tag: Tom Aspinall

  • Eddie Hearn Challenges Dana White To Release Tom Aspinall

    Eddie Hearn Challenges Dana White To Release Tom Aspinall

    Eddie Hearn has challenged Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his UFC contract, promising to pay the heavyweight champion a minimum of three times his current UFC salary and offering to drop his legal dispute with Conor Benn as part of the deal.

    Hearn told iFL TV he was inspired by White’s own words about Benn signing with Zuffa Boxing.

    “One thing that’s actually stuck out with me from his comments is when Conor Benn signed with Zuffa, he said, ‘Eddie should want fighters to earn as much as possible.’ Right? Do you remember that? ‘He should be happy for Conor Benn, that he’s making more money.’ So I’ve been thinking about that line, and I think that I’ve got an idea. I would like Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his UFC contract, and I will guarantee Dana White, in writing, that I will pay Tom Aspinall a minimum — probably five times more — but a minimum of three times more what Dana White is paying him. And I think for a hardworking, working class man that deserves every penny he can get because of what he puts his body through, that Dana White should be happy for Tom Aspinall to receive that deal.”

    Hearn was direct about his assessment of Aspinall’s current deal.

    “The situation with Tom is, and he is under contract with the UFC, but unfortunately for him he has signed a contract which is one of the worst, most grossly underpaid athletes I have ever seen in the commercial world of sports. I’m looking at this kid, Tom Aspinall, I’m looking at what combat sports athletes are making around the world, and I’ll be honest with you, it’s absolutely disgusting what they’re paying him and things need to change.”

    He also offered to walk away from his ongoing legal dispute with Benn in exchange for Aspinall’s release.

    “I’ll trade that up. I’ll walk away from all their problems they’ve got on the Conor Benn legal situation if they release Tom Aspinall. And I will, in writing, it will be five or six times more money he’ll be making, but I will put in writing that Tom Aspinall will make a minimum of three times more than he will under his current contract. There you go. And then we can all celebrate a great athlete, a great fighter, and someone that deserves, like Dana said, to make as much money as he can from the sport.”

    Aspinall is currently sidelined with eye injuries suffered in his fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025. He signed a management contract with Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency. Benn signed a reported $15 million deal with Zuffa Boxing for a single bout. Hearn and White have been publicly feuding for months, with tensions escalating to the point of both men discussing a fight between themselves before White backed away from that talk

  • ‘What A Robbery, What A Fix’ – UFC Champ Tom Aspinall Explodes Over Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven Controversial Stoppage

    Tom Aspinall didn’t hold back after watching Rico Verhoeven fall short against Oleksandr Usyk in their WBC heavyweight title clash, labeling the ending as nothing short of outrageous.

    The UFC heavyweight champion was watching the fight live on his YouTube channel when the dramatic finish unfolded. With just one second remaining in Round 11, the referee stepped in to stop the bout following a late flurry from Usyk, a decision that immediately sparked widespread debate.

    Aspinall’s reaction was instant and emotional.

    “Oh, what? He stopped it? No f*cking way,” Aspinall said during the live stream on his YouTube channel. “For a world title fight, he stopped it with about five or six unanswered shots. What? Mate, what the f*cking hell is that? What a robbery. What a fix that is.”

    The British heavyweight, who has trained alongside Verhoeven in the past, made it clear he believed the stoppage wasn’t just premature but deeply questionable.

    “I think he’s fine there. Gum shield’s gone, but I think he’s alright… Last 10 seconds, Rico can survive this,” he said. “Oh what, he stopped it?! No f*cking way!”

    Aspinall went further by comparing the decision to other recent fights, arguing that far worse damage has been allowed to continue without intervention.

    “Two weeks ago, we were at Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois ringside,” he said. “Mate, that happened probably 10 times. Sent Fabio Wardley out there, big swollen eye, nose smashed, dropped multiple times… they let that go. Rico gets stumbled with 10 seconds left and they don’t even let him make it to the end of the round? It’s a f*cking robbery.”

    He also pointed to the timing of the stoppage, suggesting Verhoeven was denied a fair chance to recover between rounds.

    “The bell went. So he stopped it after the round, basically,” Aspinall said. “Why not give him a chance? It’s not like he was taking a beating for the full fight. He took a few punches late, with one round to go. I can’t believe that.”

    Beyond the stoppage itself, Aspinall hinted at a broader issue within the sport, questioning whether fighters from outside traditional boxing backgrounds are given a fair shake.

    “Boxing don’t want anyone else to win. Simple as that,” he said. “They want boxers with the amateur style, Olympic medals, unbeaten records. That’s what they want. They don’t like other combat sports. It’s bullsh*t.”

    Verhoeven had entered the fight as a heavy underdog with limited professional boxing experience, but his performance surprised many, with some believing he was competitive on the scorecards heading into the final rounds.

  • Tom Aspinall Reveals His UFC Return Has Been Pushed Back

    Tom Aspinall Reveals His UFC Return Has Been Pushed Back

    Tom Aspinall is picking Ciryl Gane to beat Alex Pereira on points at UFC Freedom 250, predicting that Pereira will struggle against a big, mobile heavyweight who moves well.

    Aspinall has already been told he will fight the winner of Pereira vs. Gane. He broke down the matchup for the first time on Fight Your Corner, expressing doubt about how Pereira’s game will translate to the heavyweight division.

    “Alex Pereira is very good when he fights light heavyweights or middleweights who don’t move a lot. Ciryl Gane is a massive heavyweight who moves a lot. Moves really well. So, stylistically, I think it’s a good matchup for Gane. That being said, Gane doesn’t like leg kicks. He doesn’t fare well against leg kicks. He’s a good kicker, but if someone kicks him, his leg kick defense isn’t great. I struggle to pick a winner at this stage to be honest. I would say Gane by points. I think he’s just going to move too much for him and beat him on points.”

    Aspinall also revealed that his own return has been pushed back after a recent scan of the eye injuries he sustained in his first undisputed title defense showed he needs more time.

    “I’ve just had my recent scan. I thought it was going to get cleared actually to spar and fight straight away but they actually said they’ve given me another couple of months so I’m just waiting.”

    Pereira faces Gane for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship on June 14 at the White House. A win would make him the first fighter in UFC history to claim a version of the title in three separate weight classes.

  • Tom Aspinall Breaks Down Chimaev vs. Strickland and Gives His Verdict on the Title Fight

    Tom Aspinall Breaks Down Chimaev vs. Strickland and Gives His Verdict on the Title Fight

    Tom Aspinall has weighed in on the UFC 328 main event and the undisputed heavyweight champion is leaning toward Khamzat Chimaev, though he made clear he sees a genuine path for Sean Strickland to pull off the upset.

    Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aspinall broke down both fighters before arriving at his prediction.

    “I think this is going to be a good fight, first of all. I think Khamzat, to me, looks pretty unstoppable at the moment with his takedowns and stuff. His striking, obviously he’s very dangerous with his striking as well. I think Sean Strickland probably has a little bit of an edge in the striking department, but Khamzat’s grappling. I don’t know if Sean Strickland will be able to get up off the bottom enough times.”

    He acknowledged the reports about Strickland’s bottom game before identifying the question he believes will define the fight.

    “That being said, I know Sean’s coach. I’ve actually trained with Sean a little bit as well, only a tiny bit, though. But I know a lot of people who are close to him and everyone keeps saying how good he is at getting up off the bottom. So, I think it’s going to be real interesting. The big question for me is like, how many times can he get up off the bottom without getting caught in a submission without getting tired. Khamzat will just rinse and repeat for the full five rounds. If Strickland can come through that, not be exhausted, which he’s never shown any signs of that before in my opinion, and put him on the end of that awkward style that he’s got with striking and really unorthodox stand up, I think there’s definitely a chance for Strickland. But in my opinion I’m leaning a little bit toward Khamzat.”

    When pushed to commit to a pick, Aspinall landed on the champion winning a competitive contest.

    “The verdict is for me Khamzat by decision. I think it will be a little more competitive than the DDP fight, but I think Khamzat by decision.”

    UFC 328 takes place Saturday, May 9 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

  • Tom Aspinall Says UFC Bosses Told Him He’ll Fight Pereira vs Gane Winner

    Tom Aspinall Says UFC Bosses Told Him He’ll Fight Pereira vs Gane Winner

    Tom Aspinall has delivered one of the most encouraging updates yet on his recovery, revealing that contact clearance may be imminent following a positive scan at the eye hospital.

    Aspinall shared the update on his YouTube channel after returning from a hospital appointment that gave him reason for genuine optimism.

    “We are just en route back from the eye hospital, where today I’ve had a scan, and things are progressing f***ing nicely, which I’m very happy about. They’re saying, pretty soon – if things keep moving in the right direction – I will be cleared for contact. I am back in the gym, I am back training, but not sparring just yet. But if things keep going the way they’re going, we are back.”

    He also addressed the question that has followed him throughout his recovery regarding when and who he will fight next.

    “Everyone keeps asking when I’m going to fight. The obvious answer is the other two guys, Alex and Ciryl, have to fight for the interim title. I’m obviously going to fight the winner. The UFC has told me that I’m fighting the winner. First and foremost, I should get my health right, which is on the right track. I have to wait for that to be done, and we fight the winner. Simple as that. No specific month. I’m waiting to get clearance, which is going to be coming soon, they’ve just told me. And any specific month depends on the UFC. Those two have got to fight each other. Let them do the thing first, recover from that, and then when everybody’s ready, we’ll do it.”

    Aspinall has been sidelined since October 2025, when his first heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest following multiple eye pokes. He underwent double eye surgery. His overall record stands at 15-3 with one no-contest, and all 15 of his wins have come by stoppage.

  • Tom Aspinall Shuts Down Boxing Rumors, Commits to UFC

    Tom Aspinall Shuts Down Boxing Rumors, Commits to UFC

    Tom Aspinall has shut down speculation about a move to boxing, making clear that despite his relationship with promoter Eddie Hearn, his focus remains entirely on the UFC and his eventual return to the heavyweight division.

    Aspinall addressed the boxing rumors during a training trip to Croatia, where he works with former WBA light heavyweight champion Stipe Drviš. Despite the natural assumption that a connection to one of boxing’s most prominent promoters signals a potential crossover, Aspinall’s answer left little room for ambiguity.

    “Maybe,” Aspinall said when asked if Drviš could help him transition to boxing, before clarifying his actual position. “To be honest, I ain’t thinking about boxing that much right now. No. I’ve got more stuff to do with the UFC.”

    Aspinall has been out of action since October 2025, when his first title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 ended in a no-contest after he was poked in both eyes during the fight. He subsequently underwent double eye surgery in February 2026 to address the injuries. Recent social media posts have shown him back in the gym, though he confirmed he is not back training fully yet.

    Drviš, who holds a 32-2 boxing record, joined Aspinall’s coaching staff last year with a specific focus on enhancing his striking for MMA competition rather than preparing him for a boxing career. The Croatian boxing legend’s role is focused on making Aspinall a better UFC fighter, not on building a second career in the squared circle.

    In Aspinall’s absence, the UFC has created an interim heavyweight title, with Alex Pereira and Gane scheduled to fight for the belt at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. Aspinall is expected to unify the division by facing the winner of that bout later this year if his recovery continues on its current trajectory.

  • Tom Aspinall Ditches the Sunglasses and Gets Back on the Pads in Positive Recovery Update

    Tom Aspinall Ditches the Sunglasses and Gets Back on the Pads in Positive Recovery Update

    Tom Aspinall is showing signs of a genuine return to form, sharing brief pad work footage in a new YouTube video that represents one of the most encouraging updates yet from the UFC heavyweight champion during his recovery.

    The footage, filmed during a visit to Croatia, shows Aspinall hitting mitts with a coach. While only a few frames of the pad work are visible, the clip represents a notable step forward from his lowest point during recovery, and he has conspicuously dropped the sunglasses that had become part of his appearance during his most difficult period.

    Aspinall has been sidelined since suffering a double eye injury from eye pokes during his fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October, subsequently undergoing double eye surgery. Throughout his recovery, he has maintained a consistent presence with his fanbase through his YouTube channel, sharing honest updates about his rehabilitation.

    He will watch from the sidelines as an interim heavyweight title is determined at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, where Alex Pereira challenges Gane in the co-main event of the White House card. The champion is expected to face the winner of that bout upon his return, though no date has been confirmed. He also recently signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency.

    The pad footage adds to optimism that Aspinall is working his way back toward active competition, though the UFC has not announced a return timeline.

  • “Bad Move” – Darren Till Warns Tom Aspinall Over Eddie Hearn Deal

    “Bad Move” – Darren Till Warns Tom Aspinall Over Eddie Hearn Deal

    Eddie Hearn and Tom Aspinall

    Darren Till has a warning for his close friend Tom Aspinall about the management deal that has put the UFC heavyweight champion on Dana White’s bad side.

    Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, Till spoke candidly about Aspinall’s decision to sign with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency last month. The two Liverpudlians have known each other for years, and Till said he would give Aspinall the same honest take in private that he was giving on camera.

    “If Tom was sat here with me now, me and Tom have had deep, deep convos all our life, if Tom was to say, ‘What do you think?’ I’d go, ‘I think it was a bad move, Tom, because it’s just going to put you in bad stead with the UFC,’” Till said. “Dana is going to get a mini cob on. They’re probably going to do little things just to [undermine you]. That’s how I see it. And I’m always going to speak.”

    Till Believes Aspinall Got Paid, But At a Cost

    Till stressed that Aspinall is not being played by anyone and likely extracted real value from the deal. The concern is what happens inside the UFC now that the champion has a powerful outside representative pushing his interests.

    “Tom’s not stupid. He hasn’t been used as a pawn because he’ll be doing what’s best for him moneywise as well,” Till said. “He’s got a family there. Tom will be getting the most out of it moneywise. But signing with Eddie might have been a bit… I think it’s going to put him in bad stead with the UFC.”

    The warning lines up with what has already happened. Aspinall received a text from White at 6pm on the day of UFC London in March asking if he wanted to attend, despite living five hours away. The heavyweight champion has also been passed over in promotion while Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira fight for an interim title on June 14.

    The MMA-Boxing Trap

    Till also pushed back on the idea that MMA fighters can cross into boxing with minimal adjustment, a topic that has followed Aspinall since the Matchroom signing raised questions about a potential boxing move.

    “All of us are MMA fighters. If we switch over, we like to go, ‘Well, I’ve done boxing.’ No, you haven’t. You’ve done boxing for MMA. What does that mean? You’ve been in a wide stance. You don’t throw close-quarter shots. Only two guys, Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, really use boxing for MMA. But MMA and boxing are two completely different things,” Till said.

    Aspinall is still not cleared for contact training following double eye surgery after the Gane fight at UFC 321 last October. Till has been through his own UFC-to-boxing pivot and is now moving on to BKFC, with his bare-knuckle debut set for May 30.

  • Eddie Hearn Slams UFC For Treatment Of Tom Aspinall

    Eddie Hearn Slams UFC For Treatment Of Tom Aspinall

    Tom Aspinall was not at UFC London in March, and his manager Eddie Hearn has explained why in terms that raise questions about how the UFC handled the situation.

    Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Tuesday, Hearn revealed that Aspinall received a text message from UFC President Dana White at around 6pm on the day of the March 21 event asking if he wanted to attend. The problem was that Aspinall lives five hours away from London.

    “He was very surprised that he never got an invite,” Hearn said. “He got a text from Dana at about 6pm on the day of the fight saying, ‘Would you like to come tonight?’ And he lives five hours away. So, that wasn’t ideal.”

    Hearn expressed genuine bafflement at the decision to hold a UK event without properly inviting the UFC’s reigning heavyweight champion, who is himself British.

    “I just find it baffling that you can do an event in the UK and not invite the heavyweight world champion, who is from the UK,” Hearn said. “Let’s be honest, it wasn’t exactly a card for the huge names, was it? Tom Aspinall being there would’ve been great for the event.”

    Aspinall has been sidelined since suffering a double eye poke during his fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October, subsequently undergoing double eye surgery. He is still not fully cleared for contact training.

    “I’ve not had a lot going on, just been back in the gym doing a bit of light training. I’m still waiting to get fully cleared for contact on my eye, but we are back in the gym doing a little bit,” Aspinall said earlier this month.

    Due to his extended absence, the UFC has created an interim heavyweight title, with Gane and Alex Pereira scheduled to fight for the secondary championship on June 14.

  • Tom Aspinall Back In Training As UFC Return Closing In

    Tom Aspinall Back In Training As UFC Return Closing In

    Tom Aspinall has returned to the gym after a six-month layoff following an eye injury that forced a no-contest at UFC 321. The UFC heavyweight champion shared training footage on YouTube, announcing he’s begun light work while awaiting full medical clearance for contact.

    “Not had a lot going on, just been back in the gym doing a little bit of light training,” Aspinall said in the video.

    “Still waiting to get fully cleared for contact on my eye. But we are back in the gym doing a little bit, and we’ll be showing you a bit of that later in the week.”

    The 32-year-old British fighter has been sidelined since October 2025, when an eye poke forced him to withdraw from a bout against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. The no-contest result sparked controversy, with critics claiming Aspinall quit after a slow start to the fight.

    Tom Aspinall Awaits Clearance for Full Training

    The training footage shows Aspinall working on punching bag drills and light grappling exchanges with his training partner. He emphasized the limited nature of his current work as he continues recovery from double eye surgery.

    “Back in, a bit of light training. All good, though. Back into it. Light. Still waiting to be cleared to do contact properly.”

    Interim Title Fight Set During Champion’s Recovery

    The UFC has moved forward with the heavyweight division during Aspinall’s absence. Alex Pereira will challenge Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight title at the upcoming UFC White House event, with the winner expected to face Aspinall once he receives medical clearance.

    Pereira is attempting to become a champion in a third weight class, while Gane seeks redemption after the controversial no-contest with Aspinall. The interim title bout ensures the division remains active while the undisputed champion recovers.

  • Tom Aspinall Signs with Eddie Hearn’s New Matchroom Agency

    Tom Aspinall Signs with Eddie Hearn’s New Matchroom Agency

    Eddie Hearn has landed one of combat sports’ biggest names for his newly launched Matchroom Talent Agency, signing UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall as its first major client, it was announced Thursday.​

    The deal pairs the 31-year-old British champion — currently sidelined and recovering from a serious eye injury — with Hearn’s new management venture, a separate arm from his well-established Matchroom Boxing promotional outfit. The signing marks a significant power play for Hearn in the combat sports world and represents a new business direction beyond boxing promotion.

    Tom Aspinall ‘Looking’ Ahead

    The news comes four months after Aspinall’s ill-fated title defense against Ciryl Gane, which ended in a no-contest in October 2025 after the Frenchman landed a double eye poke that left Aspinall unable to continue. Aspinall was subsequently diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome — a condition affecting ocular mobility — and has undergone surgery on both eyes. As recently as February 2026, Aspinall disclosed he still had a persistent black spot in his vision and had not yet been medically cleared to return to training.

    TKO vs. Matchroom: Shots Fired

    The signing has an unmistakable political dimension. Hearn had been publicly critical of the UFC’s treatment of Aspinall in the aftermath of the Gane no-contest, with UFC CEO Dana White controversially suggesting Aspinall was unwilling to continue the fight and questioning the severity of the injury. Hearn called out White’s handling of the situation on multiple occasions, stating White “humiliated” the champion. Aspinall’s father also disclosed publicly that his son has approximately three fights remaining on his current UFC contract.

    The timing of the signing also comes on the heels of Hearn losing one of his top Matchroom Boxing stars, Conor Benn, who recently departed for an eight-figure deal with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. Hearn responded by launching the Matchroom Talent Agency — a management-focused entity — and wasted no time securing Aspinall as its marquee first signing.

    Aspinall remains the reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion. His next title defense, return timeline, and future contractual situation with the UFC remain unknown pending his full medical clearance.​

  • Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones “Being Discussed” For UFC White House

    Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones “Being Discussed” For UFC White House

    It appears that Alex Pereira’s next step will be seeking UFC gold at heavyweight, and that could come true in his next fight, which could be in the main event of the UFC White House card.

    In a new video regarding Pereira vacating the light heavyweight title, Ariel Helwani claims, as many have assumed, the reason for Pereira vacating the championship is that he is being allowed to move up to heavyweight.

    In addition, according to Helwani, there have been discussions about having Pereira vs. Jon Jones taking place as the featured bout of the UFC White House card — either for a would-be vacant heavyweight championship or an interim one.

    Helwani says that this fight is not a guarantee, and there’s not a lot of positive momentum about this fight taking place. It has, however, at least been talked about as a potential idea.

    “Alex Pereira is no longer the light heavyweight champion, and I can tell you right here and now that there have been some talks of him fighting Jon Jones,” Helwani said. “And there have been talks of him fighting Jon Jones on the White House card.

    “Jon Jones on the White House card is not dead, but I could tell you I don’t feel as of right now a ton of positive momentum in that direction. But I’m not here to tell you that it’s dead. There have been talks of this.”

    Helwani adds that if Pereira vs. Jones doesn’t get done, then there are discussions of Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane, for what Helwani assumes would be an interim heavyweight championship.

    Whether Pereira’s heavyweight debut features an undisputed or interim heavyweight title at stake will also depend on the status of champion Tom Aspinall. Aspinall has been sidelined with eye issues since he and Gane’s no-contest at UFC 321 in October.

    Jones has publicly hoped at the possibility of competing in front of U.S. President Donald Trump on the UFC White House card. Jones, in fact, ended his retirement after just two weeks when the opportunity first opened up.

    UFC CEO and President Dana White, however, has previously stated apprehension about Jones being involved in such a card.

    White has also stated he preferred Pereira to stay at light heavyweight, but his stance on that seems to have softened over time.

    Pereira is a former middleweight and light heavyweight champion. He regained the 205-pound title in his last fight, knocking out Magomed Ankalaev in just over a minute at UFC 320.

    A heavyweight title win would make Pereira the first UFC fighter ever to win championships in three different weight classes.

    Carlos Ulberg and Jiri Prochazka will fight for the vacated light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 327, which takes place on April 11 in Miami.

  • UFC Champ Tom Aspinall Shares Gruesome Photo After Double Eye Surgery

    UFC Champ Tom Aspinall Shares Gruesome Photo After Double Eye Surgery

    Tom Aspinall underwent surgery on both eyes on Tuesday to repair damage from a double eye poke suffered against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October.

    One day after surgery, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion posted photos of his bloodshot eyes on his Instagram story. Aspinall captioned the photo of his bloodshot eyes with this phrase: “One day post surgery.”

    Tom Aspinall Eyes After Surgery

    The surgery, performed by Optegra’s expert team in London, was needed after Aspinall was diagnosed with traumatic bilateral Brown’s syndrome, causing double vision and limited eye movement.

    Tom Aspinall’s Road To Recovery

    Tom Aspinall (15-3) has been sidelined indefinitely due to his injury, with a return to the Octagon contingent on medical clearance. In the meantime, UFC CEO Dana White has stated that the heavyweight title clash with Ciryl Gane (13-2) will be rebooked once the British champion has recovered.

    Aspinall defended his undisputed heavyweight crown against Gane at UFC 321, but the matchup was ruled a no-contest after “Bon Gamin” poked him twice in the eyes during an exchange.

    The referee paused the action to allow Aspinall time to recover, but his vision was too compromised to continue, prompting an official stoppage at the 4:35 mark of the opening round.

  • Tom Aspinall Undergoes Double Eye Surgery Following UFC 321 No-Contest

    Tom Aspinall Undergoes Double Eye Surgery Following UFC 321 No-Contest

    Tom Aspinall has undergone surgery on both eyes as doctors work to restore his vision following his UFC 321 title fight against Ciryl Gane last October.

    Specialist eye hospital Optegra Eye Health Care in London confirmed the procedures were complete in a statement shared on Instagram. “Following his operation on both eyes we continue the journey to get Tom’s vision back to fighting fitness,” the clinic said.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DUlp9jRD7bz

    What Happened at UFC 321

    Aspinall’s first defense as undisputed champion ended in a no-contest at 4:35 of the first round in Abu Dhabi after Gane caught him with a double eye poke. The injury left Aspinall unable to see clearly enough to continue, and he was immediately transported to hospital.

    The 32-year-old was later diagnosed with significant bilateral Brown’s syndrome, a rare condition affecting the movement of both eyes. He has been dealing with double vision and restricted eye movement ever since.

    Recovery and What’s Next

    Aspinall first revealed in late December that he would need surgery on both eyes, with the procedures completed over a period of several weeks. At this stage, there is no confirmed timeline for his return to the Octagon, with his team focused on fully restoring his vision before any fight bookings.

    The situation has not been without controversy. Dana White initially suggested Aspinall chose not to continue at UFC 321, and more recently claimed the champion’s treatment involved “injections” rather than surgery. Photographs shared by Aspinall on Tuesday appeared to tell a different story.

    A rematch with Gane remains the expected next fight once Aspinall is medically cleared, with Gane also sidelined while awaiting the champion’s recovery. There have also been rumblings about a potential interim heavyweight title in the meantime, though as of this writing no such plans have been confirmed.

  • Jon Jones calls Tom Aspinall a “one-trick pony” following no contest at UFC 321

    Jon Jones calls Tom Aspinall a “one-trick pony” following no contest at UFC 321

    Controversial UFC legend Jon Jones has called Tom Aspinall a one-trick pony in the wake of his no contest against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.

    As we know, Jon Jones isn’t interested in the idea of fighting Tom Aspinall – or, at least, he certainly hasn’t been for the last couple of years. There’s a chance that his attitude may change after Aspinall’s no contest against Gane in the main event of UFC 321, which ended due to a nasty double eye poke from the Frenchman.

    Jon Jones has already said that he wants to break his retirement and return to the UFC at some point next year, likely in time for the UFC White House event. While he wants to take on Alex Pereira in a superfight, you would have to think he is interested in trying to become a two-time UFC heavyweight champion.

    In a recent interview, Jon Jones spoke candidly when discussing Tom’s abilities and how the fight with Gane was playing out.

    Jon Jones questions Tom Aspinall

    “Tom’s a great athlete, but I do feel like he’s a one-trick pony,” Jones said on “NoScripts Podcast.” “I believe that his wrestling and jiu-jitsu is incredibly overrated. He has a beautiful 1-2. I got to learn a lot about his patterns in his last fight. That’s really about it. That’s the one thing that he’s setting up real nice.”

    “He couldn’t touch Ciryl Gane at all, that’s the way I felt,” Jones said. “I felt Gane was just getting warmed up. Gane’s hands was down, he was shaking his shoulders, bouncing around, touching him – he was so comfortable.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • 6 Hits And 4 Misses From UFC 321: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane

    6 Hits And 4 Misses From UFC 321: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane

    The eyes of the combat world were locked in on Abu Dhabi, as UFC 321 and its two title fights went down at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

    It was this year’s edition of the UFC’s annual excursion to Abu Dhabi for a late October pay-per-view (albeit with the original one in 2019 happening in September). The UFC was also at the Etihad Arena earlier this year for a Fight Night card that was headlined by Reinier de Ridder defeating Robert Whittaker.

    The main event saw Tom Aspinall defend the UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane. Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 to become interim heavyweight champion, and he retained the interim gold against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. Aspinall was then promoted to undisputed champion following Jon Jones’ brief retirement in June. Gane, a former interim champion and two-time former title challenger, earned this title shot off a controversial decision over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310.

    The co-main event saw the vacant UFC women’s strawweight title on the line as Virna Jandiroba faced Mackenzie Dern. This was a rematch from UFC 256, where Dern earned a decision win over Jandiroba. Since then, Jandiroba had won six of seven, including five in a row, while Dern entered this fight with three wins in her last five fights.

    Who delivered in Abu Dhabi? Who didn’t? Let’s find out as we go through the hits and misses of UFC 321!

    Miss: Beastboy Far From A Beast

    I know we in the MMA community are entertained by Chris Barnett, and he’s had his victories in the Octagon. But when the heavyweight division is as weak as it is in the UFC, watching a performance like Barnett delivered on this card is not only frustrating; it’s de-motivating.

    Abdelwahab completely dominated this fight, landing multiple takedowns and smothering Barnett with his wrestling. In fact, the best offense that Barnett committed in this fight was his unintentional mooning of the crowd and home audience.

    Barnett has lost three of his last four and is now 2-4 in the UFC. If he gets another opportunity somehow after that, his Octagon tenure is for sure going to be at stake.

    Hit: Another Fight, Another Ankle For Valter Walker

    In a sky full of stormy clouds that is the heavyweight division of the UFC, Valter Walker presents a ray of sunshine. In fact, he was by far the best heavyweight performer of the night, spoiling the UFC debut of Louie Sutherland.

    It only took Walker about a minute to score a takedown on Sutherland. About 30 seconds later, and Walker had secured another first-round heel hook submission win. He becomes the first UFC fighter to have four consecutive victories in such a fashion, and he’s only the second UFC fighter with four heel hook victories in the Octagon period.

    Walker may be toward the lower end of the UFC’s heavyweight rankings, but looking around the division, he might present the biggest threat to Tom Aspinall that isn’t named Ciryl Gane.

    Hit: L’udovit Klein And Mateusz Rebecki Go To War

    L’udovit Klein and Mateusz Rebecki got their flowers for the show they put on at UFC 321, earning the event’s Fight of the Night honors. Klein, however, was the one who came away with his hand raised in a majority decision victory.

    Rebecki tried to bring his power from the get-go, showing some strong striking. But it was Klein who appeared to be in control for the first two rounds, displaying good footwork while being able to land on Rebecki, busting him open at one point. Klein would get busted up himself, however, as Rebecki pressured Klein during the third round. Klein would end up hurting his ankle, and Rebecki would take the fight to the ground, delivering some hard-hitting ground shots that could have ended the fight at any moment.

    One judge scored the bout a draw, but Klein got the nod on the other two cards. Nevertheless, it was a fight that shined the brightest on this day, and both men deserved to take a bow.

    Hit: Quillan Salkilld Sends A Scary KO

    Quillan Salkilld left the entire MMA community’s jaws on the floor with the way he put away Nasrat Haqparast.

    Haqparast attempted to take charge early, coming forward with his left hand while stopping Salkilld’s takedown attempts. But all it took was one perfectly-time head kick early in the first round to drop Haqparast out cold, twitching on the canvas and leaving him unconscious for several minutes.

    Salkilld is now 3-0 in his UFC debut year, and his track record also includes a 19-second finish in his Octagon debut. Salkilld may be one of, if not the, top Octagon rookies for 2025. Here’s hoping his 2026 continues his upward momentum and trajectory.

    Hit: Azamat Murzakanov Is For Real

    One concern people had about Azamat Murzakanov entering his UFC 321 bout with Aleksandar Rakic was that Rakic last three losses had all come against people who had been or went on to become UFC light heavyweight champion. Murzakanov had not faced competition like that before. But like what he did to Rakic, Murzakanov put those concerns to bed.

    Rakic brought pressure early, courtesy of his striking and a pair of takedown attempts. Murzakanov was able to fend off those takedowns, however, before connecting on a right hand that put Rakic away.

    Murzakanov, now 16-0, is surely going to find himself just outside the top five in the UFC’s light heavyweight division. And one of those names in the top five should surely be who Murzakanov faces next.

    Miss: Eliminate The Heavyweight Title Eliminator?

    The question seemed to be who among Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida was going to be next in line for the UFC heavyweight championship. Now the questions seem to be “Why bother?” and “Was this all for nothing?”

    Takedowns and grappling was the gameplan for Almeida, and while he dominated with that in the second round. The first round, however, saw Volkov reverse the position and land strong strikes. The striking also was present in the third round especially, and two of the judges felt Volkov’s strikes were more effective than Almeida’s grappling, giving him the win.

    The fight, however, just saw too simple and not exciting. Neither man really displayed any argument that they’d give much a fight to the UFC heavyweight champion. And then to add insult, the main event’s result means Volkov may not get a title shot anytime soon.

    Hit: Umar Nurmagomedov Rebounds, Mario Bautista Shows He Is Legit

    After coming up a round shy of defeating Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC bantamweight championship, Umar Nurmagomedov pulled off a strong performance in a win over Mario Bautista.

    Nurmagomedov’s grappling was the key to his victory, but it didn’t come without Bautista disrupting momentum. In fact, Bautista appeared to have a tight toe hold in on Nurmagomedov during the first round that he had to work his way out of. Bautista also landed a strong knee during the second round, but Nurmagomedov ultimately got a body triangle in on him on the ground and nearly got a choke.

    Nurmagomedov then put things away with more grappling and control in the final round to sweep the judges’ scorecards.

    This is one of those fights where both come away with something — Nurmagomedov made a case for the Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2 winner, and Bautista showed he is a legit exciting contender in a stacked 135-pound division.

    Miss: Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern Fails To Excite

    Din Thomas was recently on the record calling Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern the most “insignificant” title fight in UFC history. And while some may feel his comments weren’t warranted, the fight itself ultimately didn’t feel like it had the excitement.

    Dern and Jandiroba traded control between grappling and striking exchanges. Jandiroba seemed to get off to a strong start with her pressure and takedowns. Dern, however, appeared comfortable from her back and managed to keep things even with the grappling. Dern’s improved striking ultimately helped lead her to the decision victory.

    The fight was competitive but didn’t have the hard-hitting, intense nature you might feel with a title fight. Hopefully for Dern, however, this is the start of a new run that can gain aura over time. And perhaps Tatiana Suarez or Yan Xiaonan can make for an interesting first title defense.

    Hit: Dern Fulfills Destiny

    While the fight wasn’t the greatest title bout in UFC history, I do want to give a tip of the cap to Dern.

    There was plenty of talk about Dern early in her career, as the jiu-jitsu world champion made her UFC debut as a 5-0 fighter off a stint in the LFA. Things started off well for her between 2016 and 2020, but a loss to Marina Rodriguez in late 2021 brought about concern that her momentum had stalled. And this was after already drawing concern early in her career with weight misses.

    But ever since aligning herself with Jason Parillo, Dern’s striking has continued to get better over time. She has turned into a well-rounded fighter, and she has found success to the point where she now has fulfilled a destiny she set for herself. Well done, Mackenzie!

    Miss: A Letdown Ending For A Letdown Of A Division

    So much for the Tom Aspinall era beginning with a bang. It instead begins with a small pop that coincides with the way he was named champion.

    Or should I say that it begins with an eye poke? Because a double eye poke left Aspinall unable to continue, resulting in the first UFC title fight main event on pay-per-view that ends in an immediate no contest (Cormier vs. Jones 2 was overturned to one months after the fact).

    Gane’s striking appeared to be giving him success, even busting up Aspinall around his mouth. Things were looking great for him until the eye pokes, and now all momentum for Aspinall is somehow stalled even further. This will get run back, but it’s a shame that this is how the night ends.

    And after the way this match played out, combined with the other heavyweight fights on the night, Jon Jones is the biggest winner. It stinks to admit — but heavyweight is nothing without him. And with Alex Pereira desiring a move up in weight, perhaps Jones vs. Pereira is on the table again…and maybe for the White House card that Dana White didn’t want Jones on?

  • Jon Jones Tells Alex Pereira He’d Be Honored To Fight Him At UFC White House, Both Rip Tom Aspinall After UFC 321 No Contest

    Jon Jones Tells Alex Pereira He’d Be Honored To Fight Him At UFC White House, Both Rip Tom Aspinall After UFC 321 No Contest

    After the events of UFC 321, you knew Jon Jones was going to make his voice heard. And he did so in a way that was equal parts subtle as it was blatant.

    The UFC 321 heavyweight championship main event featuring Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane ended in a no contest after Aspinall was left unable to continue due to a double eye poke. In the hours since, the MMA community has been in debate over if Gane is at fault for the eye pokes or if Aspinall wanted a way out of the fight.

    Jones has given his answer, changing photos on his social media accounts to rubber ducks with eye patches.

    This was a clap back and nod to UFC London earlier this year. There, Aspinall was in the crowd and held up a rubber duck to the camera, implying that Jones was ducking him in the negotiations for an undisputed title fight between the two that ultimately fell through.

    Jon Jones Sends Dig To Tom Aspinall, Wants To Fight Alex Pereira At UFC White House

    Jones wasn’t done, however. A few hours after the end of the card, Jones directed a post on X (formerly Twitter) toward Alex Pereira, putting out the idea of the two facing off at the UFC White House card this coming June.

    “Alex, I’d be down to bring the highest skill level to the White House,” Jones said in the post. “I appreciate the respect you showed, let’s dance.”

    This was in response to Pereira’s own reaction to the UFC 321 conclusion. In an Instagram post, Pereira can be seen shaking his head with a smirk as he walked away from his TV screen.

    The post was captioned with a message toward Jones, asking for the two of them to “make the heavyweight division great again.”

    Both circumstances, however, will have to go through the mind of someone who has been against both. UFC CEO and President Dana White has previously stated that he doesn’t want Jones competing at the UFC White House card and that he doesn’t have an interest in Alex Pereira moving up to heavyweight.

  • “What A Complete Disaster” – Fans & Fighters Left In Disbelief As Eye Poke Ends Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Heavyweight Title Fight In No Contest At UFC 321

    “What A Complete Disaster” – Fans & Fighters Left In Disbelief As Eye Poke Ends Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Heavyweight Title Fight In No Contest At UFC 321

    The first UFC heavyweight title fight of the Tom Aspinall era — and his first fight since July 2024 — ends in the most anti-climatic fashion, as an accidental foul resulted in Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 ending in a no contest.

    This marks the first time in UFC history that a championship main event fight immediately ends in a no contest. It’s the second overall, as the UFC 214 main event between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier became a no contest after Jones failed a drug test.

    Both men came forward, trying to show their striking and gain control of the pace. Gane looked to land quick jabs and managed to work his way out of an Aspinall takedown attempt. Aspinall landed some power shots, but Gane landed his own and was able to bloody him up.

    An eye poke to both eyes, however, left Aspinall unable to see and unable to continue, ending the first in a no contest.

    Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane UFC Heavyweight Title Fight At UFC 321 Ends In No Contest

    Aspinall initially became interim heavyweight champion with a finish of Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. He retained that interim title by defeating Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 and was promoted to undisputed champion on the day of UFC Baku following the (brief) retirement of Jon Jones.

    Gane earned this title shot with his controversial decision win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310. He is a former interim heavyweight champion, earning that by defeating Derrick Lewis at UFC 265. Gane, however, was unsuccessful in undisputed title fights with Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones, respectively, at UFC 270 and UFC 285.

  • UFC 321 Commentary Team: Who’s Replacing Joe Rogan In The Broadcast Booth In Abu Dhabi?

    UFC 321 Commentary Team: Who’s Replacing Joe Rogan In The Broadcast Booth In Abu Dhabi?

    UFC 321 is set to electrify the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE tonight (Saturday, October 25), with a stacked card of fights.

    UFC’s 11th pay-per-view of 2025 features a thrilling championship doubleheader. In the main event, heavyweight king Tom Aspinall defends his undisputed title for the first time against former interim champion Ciryl Gane.

    Meanwhile, in the co-main event, top strawweight contenders Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern collide for the vacant 115-pound UFC title. The UFC 321 main card also features a pivotal bantamweight showdown as former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov goes head-to-head with Mario Bautista.

    UFC 321 Commentary & Broadcast Team

    UFC 321 viewers won’t catch the familiar voice of veteran commentator Joe Rogan, who, as always, does not travel for international events and will be absent from the broadcast in Abu Dhabi.

    Joe Rogan will be missing from UFC 321 commentary team
    Image: UFC/YouTube

    Stepping into the booth, former MMA fighter turned analyst Laura Sanko makes her second PPV appearance, providing expert color commentary alongside the dynamic duo of play-by-play announcer Jon Anik and UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier.

    As usual, legendary Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer returns, electrifying the crowd with his signature energy and iconic flair as he hypes up every fighter before each matchup.

    Behind the scenes at UFC 321, commentator John Gooden will bring fans closer to the action, conducting pre- and post-fight interviews with fighters and delivering live updates throughout the night.

    UFC veterans Anthony Smith, Chael Sonnen, and Paul Felder will complete the broadcast team, offering expert analysis from the desk during the event and on the post-fight show, hosted by Brendan Fitzgerald.

    Image: @ufc/X
  • UFC 321 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Aspinall vs. Gane, Jandiroba vs. Dern, And More

    UFC 321 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Aspinall vs. Gane, Jandiroba vs. Dern, And More

    UFC 321 is here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.

    The card takes place from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, on Saturday, October 25. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 2PM ET/11AM PT, with preliminary action starting at 10AM ET/7AM PT.

    The headline attraction for the event will feature a UFC heavyweight championship matchup between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane.

    The co-main event will see the vacant UFC women’s strawweight championship on the line as Virna Jandiroba rematches Mackenzie Dern.

    The pay-per-view main card will also feature Umar Nurmagomedov taking on Mario Bautista, a heavyweight title eliminator with Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida, and Aleksandar Rakic facing Azamat Murzakanov.

    UFC 321: Aspinall vs. Gane Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 321 as of the start of the event, courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall (-345) vs. Ciryl Gane (+275)
    • Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba (+124) vs. Mackenzie Dern (-148)
    • Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov (-625) vs. Mario Bautista (+455)
    • Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov (+160) vs. Jailton Almeida (-192)
    • Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic (-125) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (+105)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Nasrat Haqparast (-105) vs. Quillan Salkilld (-115)
    • Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov (-225) vs. JunYong Park (+185)
    • Lightweight: L’udovit Klein (-130) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (+110)
    • Heavyweight: Valter Walker (-390) vs. Louie Sutherland (+310)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood (+130) vs. Jose Miguel Delgado (-155)
    • Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab (-520) vs. Chris Barnett (+390)
    • Flyweight: Azat Maksum (-500) vs. Mitch Raposo (+380)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim (-500) vs. Mizuki (+380)
  • UFC 321 Results & Highlights: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Ends in No Contest

    UFC 321 Results & Highlights: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Ends in No Contest

    UFC 321 took place tonight from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    In the main event, heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall defended his undisputed title for the first time against former interim champion Ciryl Gane. In the co-main event, the vacant women’s strawweight championship was on the line as Virna Jandiroba faced Mackenzie Dern.

    UFC 321 Results: Main Card

    • Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane ends in no contest (accidental eye poke): R1, 4.35
    • Women’s Strawweight Championship: Mackenzie Dern def. Virna Jandiroba via unanimous decision (48-47×2, 49-46)
    • Bantamweight Bout: Umar Nurmagomedov def. Mario Bautista via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Heavyweight Bout: Alexander Volkov def. Jailton Almeida via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Light Heavyweight Bout: Azamat Murzakanov def. Aleksandar Rakic via TKO: R1, 3.11

    Preliminary Card

    • Lightweight Bout: Quillan Salkilld def. Nasrat Haqparast via KO: R1, 2.30
    • Middleweight Bout: Aliskerov def. JunYong Park via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Lightweight Bout: Ludovit Klein def. Mateusz Rebecki via majority decision (29-28, 28-27, 28-28)
    • Heavyweight Bout: Valter Walker def. Louie Sutherland via submission: R1, 1.24

    Early Preliminary Card

    • Featherweight Bout: Nathaniel Wood def. Jose Delgado via unanimous (29-28×3)
    • Heavyweight Bout: Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Chris Barnett via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-27×2)
    • Flyweight Bout: Mitch Raposo def. Azat Maksum via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27×2)
    • Women’s Strawweight Bout: Mizuki Inoue def. Jaqueline Amorim via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Valter Walker def. Louie Sutherland

    Quillan Salkilld def. Nasrat Haqparast

    Main Card Highlights

    Azamat Murzakanov def. Aleksandar Rakic

    Azamat Murzakanov earned a first-round TKO in this light heavyweight matchup.

    Alexander Volkov def. Jailton Almeida

    Alexander Volkov got it done by split decision.

    Umar Nurmagomedov def. Mario Bautista

    Umar Nurmagomedov earned a unanimous decision win.

    Mackenzie Dern def. Virna Jandiroba

    In the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern captured the strawweight title with a unanimous decision win.

    Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane ends in no contest

    The main event was ruled a no contest due to an accidental eye poke by Cyril Gane late in the first round.

  • Watch Tom Aspinall, Ciryl Gane Face Off At UFC 321 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    Watch Tom Aspinall, Ciryl Gane Face Off At UFC 321 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins

    We’re 24 hours away from UFC 321, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!

    UFC 321 takes place on October 25 from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

    The main event will see Tom Aspinall defend the UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane. Aspinall became interim heavyweight champion at UFC 295 by defeating Sergei Pavlovich. He’d retain the interim title by defeating Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 and was then promoted to undisputed champion this past summer following the brief retirement of Jon Jones. Gane earned this title shot with his controversial decision win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310.

    The UFC women’s strawweight champion will find a new owner in the co-main event, as Virna Jandiroba takes on Mackenzie Dern. This is a rematch from UFC 256, which saw Dern earn a decision win. Jandiroba has won five straight entering this fight, while Dern has won three of five.

    The rest of the main card will see former bantamweight title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov face Mario Bautista, a heavyweight title eliminator between Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida, and a light heavyweight showdown featuring Aleksandar Rakic and Azamat Murzakanov.

    Though two prelim fighters missed weight for their contests, all fights appear ready to move forward to UFC 321!

    The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!

    UFC 321 Ceremonial Weigh-In Video

  • UFC 321 Full Weigh-In Results: Two Miss Weight

    UFC 321 Full Weigh-In Results: Two Miss Weight

    We are just one day away from UFC 321, and we’ve got the official weigh-in results for you here at MMA News.

    UFC 321 takes place from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, featuring a number of noteworthy names topped off with two title fights.

    The main event will see Tom Aspinall make his first defense as undisputed heavyweight champion, as he takes on Ciryl Gane. Aspinall became interim champion with a finish of Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. He then retained the interim title by knocking out Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 before being promoted to undisputed champion following the (brief) retirement of Jon Jones.

    Gane, a former UFC interim heavyweight champion himself, earned the title fight with a controversial decision win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310.

    A new strawweight champion will be crowned in the co-main event, as Virna Jandiroba takes on Mackenzie Dern. This will be a rematch of their fight from UFC 256 in December 2020, which saw Dern get the judges’ nod.

    Jandiroba has won five straight, and she has won six of seven since the loss to Dern. Dern has had her ups and downs since their first fight, but she enters this fight off two straight wins and three wins in her last five fights.

    UFC 321 Weigh-In Video, Results

    UFC 321 takes place Saturday, October 25 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at a special 2 PM ET/11 AM PT start time, with the preliminary card starting at 10 AM ET/7 AM PT.

    See above to watch the UFC 321 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall (255) vs. Ciryl Gane (247.5)
    • Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba (115) vs. Mackenzie Dern (115)
    • Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov (136) vs. Mario Bautista (135.5)
    • Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov (261.5) vs. Jailton Almeida (237)
    • Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic (205) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (205.5)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Nasrat Haqparast (156) vs. Quillan Salkilld (155.5)
    • Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov (185.5) vs. JunYong Park (185.5)
    • Lightweight: L’udovit Klein (156) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (155.5)
    • Heavyweight: Valter Walker (244) vs. Louie Sutherland (264.5)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood (146) vs. Jose Miguel Delgado (147*)
    • Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab (265) vs. Chris Barnett (261)
    • Flyweight: Azat Maksum (129**) vs. Mitch Raposo (125.5)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim (116) vs. Mizuki (115)

    *Delgado missed weight, penalty TBD
    **Maksum missed weight, fined 30 percent of his purse

  • Tom Aspinall: “I’m the champion. I fight the number one contender”

    Tom Aspinall: “I’m the champion. I fight the number one contender”

    In case anyone doubted it, Tom Aspinall is as motivated as he’s ever been heading into UFC 321.

    On Saturday night, Tom Aspinall will defend his UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 321. In the eyes of many, Gane’s striking poses an interesting threat for Tom to deal with – but in equal measure, the speed and precision of Aspinall makes him one of the most dangerous heavyweights we’ve seen in the recent history of mixed martial arts.

    Given how long he’s been away from the cage, some have questioned whether or not Tom Aspinall is still as driven as he once was to be world champion. After the Jon Jones fight fell through, it took some time before we got confirmation as to what his immediate future looked like – but the man himself insists that he’s been in the gym training and getting better this entire time.

    In a recent interview, Aspinall gave his point of view on what it means to be a champion at the elite level.

    Tom Aspinall is ready to defend his champion status

    “I’m the champion. I fight the number one contender. That’s how, in my opinion, that’s how champions are supposed to work. It’s like, you’re the guy, you fight the next guy. Prove you the best. And, uh, you rinse and repeat that for as long as possible.”

    Aspinall is ready, and based on recent evidence, the same can be said for his challenger Ciryl Gane.

  • UFC 321: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Staff Predictions

    UFC 321: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Staff Predictions

    The UFC brings a pair of title fights to its annual October pay-per-view outing in Abu Dhabi this Saturday for UFC 321. Get yourself ready and in the know with another edition of MMA News staff fight predictions.

    The event will be available exclusively on ESPN pay-per-view on Saturday, October 25. The main card will begin at a special 2pm ET start time, with preliminary card action kicking off at 10am ET.

    The main event will see the UFC heavyweight championship — and the title of baddest man on the planet — on the line as Tom Aspinall defends against Ciryl Gane.

    This will be Aspinall’s first defense of the undisputed heavyweight title. He was promoted to undisputed champion after Jon Jones’ (brief) retirement in June; UFC CEO and President Dana White announced the move at the UFC Baku post-fight press conference. Aspinall had initially defeated Serghei Pavlovich at UFC 295 to become interim heavyweight champion, and he retained that interim title by finishing Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

    Gane enters this fight off a controversial split decision win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310. Gane has previously been interim heavyweight champion, defeating Derrick Lewis at UFC 265, but he has lost in undisputed title fights against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.

    The co-main event will see a new champion crowned in the women’s strawweight division, as Weili Zhang will vacate the gold to move up and challenge Valentina Shevchenko at women’s flyweight next month. At UFC 321, either Virna Jandiroba or Mackenzie Dern will be crowned the new 115-pound champion.

    This will be a rematch from UFC 256, which saw Dern win via decision. Jandiroba has won five straight and has won six of seven since the loss to Dern. Jandiroba enters this fight off a decision win over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314 in April. Dern has won her last two and three of five, entering off a victory over Amanda Ribas in January.

    The rest of the main card will see a bantamweight scrap between Umar Nurmagomedov and Mario Bautista, a heavyweight title eliminator featuring Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeieda, and light heavyweight clash featuring Aleksandar Rakic and Azamat Murzakanov.

    UFC 321: MMA News Staff Predictions

    With UFC 321 just a couple of short days away, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and myself (Thomas Albano) have provided our picks for the fights that make up the main card.

    Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through ten cards in 2025.

    1. Pranav Pandey (27-20)
      Thomas Albano (27-20)
    2. Ryan Jarrell (25-22)

    And now, let’s take a look at everyone’s picks for UFC 321!

    Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov

    Images: UFC.com, Zuffa

    Pranav Pandey: This could turn out to be an intriguing striker-versus-striker battle. Aleksandar Rakic has hit a rough patch in his last three fights, though all of them were against former champions. “Rocket” remains a dangerous competitor with sharp stand-up skills and the experience of facing top-tier opponents. Azamat Murzakanov, on the other hand, carries the aura of a knockout artist and remains undefeated, but he hasn’t yet been truly tested against elite competition in the division. That experience gap could play in Rakic’s favor. I see this fight being competitive and capable of swinging either way, but in my opinion, Rakic’s experience give him the slight upper hand to walk away with the win. (Prediction: Rakic)

    Thomas Albano: This is an interesting battle. On one hand, Aleksandar Rakic has experience and layoff that he’s currently on a three-fight losing streak and hasn’t had a win since 2021. Meanwhile, Azamat Murzakanov is on an impressive winning streak and continues to score highlight finish after highlight finish. On the other, Rakic’s losses in his current skid have come against Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, and Magomed Ankalaev. Murzakanov, meanwhile, has not faced that kind of competition yet. I don’t have the greatest of feelings on this fight, but I’ll say Rakic’s experience helps get him a much-needed victory. This is as long as he keeps his distance and lands from there, while perhaps looking for opportunities to score takedowns. My fear is he gets into a firefight, and Rakic gets cracked. Hopefully Rakic has the IQ to stick to the smart gameplan. (Prediction: Rakic)

    Ryan Jarrell: The last win that Alexander Rakic had in the UFC was his UD win over Thiago Santos all the way back in 2021. ‘Rocket’ has now lost three fights in a row and is desperate for a win. He has a tall task in front of him because Azamat Murzakanov is undefeated and is finishing people in impressive fashion. Rakic has the skillset to be the first man to hand Azamat a loss. But I just don’t think he will be able to get it done here. Murzakanov is used to sharing the cage with high level competition and he will be ready for what Rakic brings to the octagon on fight night. (Prediction: Murzakanov)

    Consensus: 2-1 Rakic

    Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida

    Images: UFC.com, UFC/YouTube

    Pranav Pandey: Alexander Volkov makes his return to the Octagon nearly a year after the fight against Gane that slipped through his fingers. Even as he approaches the later stages of his career, the Russian has shown noticeable improvements in his striking, and his devastating reach continues to be a major asset. On the other side, Jailton Almeida is a dangerous and fresh challenger with slick submission skills. If he can weather Volkov’s striking storm and close the distance, I think Almeida could take this fight into his grappling world and look for a submission finish. (Prediction: Almeida)

    Thomas Albano: Some are disappointed that Alexander Volkov is even in this title eliminator situation to begin with because they felt he defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 310. Unfortunately for them and him, this is the reality he’s in. He’s going to be taking on Jailton Almeida, whose grappling game has been proven to be dangerous for a weak UFC heavyweight division. This a huge opportunity for the rising Almeida; however, if Volkov continues to look the way he has of late, it’s not going to be easy. Volkov’s reach is always an issue, and his striking has looked on point in his most recent fights. Even at his age, he’s making one last (realistic) case for securing a title shot. And that might turn to reality here. Just like the light heavyweight showdown that opens the main card, experience wins here. (Prediction: Volkov)

    Ryan Jarrell: This is such an intriguing matchup. The length of Alexander Volkov is always such a tricky puzzle to figure out. Volkov looked really good in his most recent fight with Ciryl Gane which ended in a split decision loss and left a lot of people upset at the judges decision. Almeida will be a very different stylistic matchup, but one that ‘Drago’ could very well pass. Both men are in their mid thirties so the time is now or never. I don’t feel confident one way or the other and I think this fight could end in a split decision. But I’ll take Volkov to have the bigger moments and win a tightly contested fight of the night candidate. (Prediction: Volkov)

    Consensus: 2-1 Volkov

    Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista

    Images: UFC.com

    Pranav Pandey: This matchup is a tricky one for me to predict. Umar Nurmagomedov has looked nearly unstoppable since joining the UFC, but his aura of invincibility took a hit when he faced the reigning bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili, at UFC 311. In that fight, his signature weapon, the relentless takedown game, got neutralized, and his overall composure seemed to unravel. I think Mario Bautista, who in my opinion is one of the most relentless and quietly consistent fighters in the division, will try to replicate that same blueprint. His style may not be the flashiest, but it’s efficient and often enough to get the job done. I can see this fight turning into a back-and-forth battle where Bautista pushes the pace early and keeps Nurmagomedov uncomfortable throughout. In my opinion, Bautista’s work rate and pressure could be the deciding factors here, and I’m leaning toward him pulling off a gritty win. (Prediction: Bautista)

    Thomas Albano: I think the common theme in this fight amongst those in MMA media making predictions is that Mario Bautista cannot be overlooked – whether you think he’s winning this fight or not. Bautista is on such a hot streak right now as he makes his way up the rankings, and if he pulls off the upset here, you have to imagine that’d earn Bautista a title eliminator – if not a title shot itself. But, Nurmagomedov’s grappling is next level, of course, and he nearly secured the bantamweight title himself by taking Merab Dvalishvili to the limit like no one has before since the start of the current champ’s long win streak. I expect Bautista to put up a strong effort but think it’s too much too quick in this case. (Prediction: Nurmagomedov)

    Ryan Jarrell: The odds on this fight is a little surprising to me. Last I checked Umar was a -625 favorite which seems a little disrespectful to a guy in Bautista who has done nothing but beat elite competition. Mario is on a 8 fight win streak with wins over Jose Aldo, Ricky Simon and most recently, Patchy Mix. I am fully aware how good Umar is but I expect this fight to be a close one. Bautista is severely underrated and just might be the toughest matchup for the dominant champion. Give me Mario Bautista to surprise the MMA world and pull the upset here via split decision. (Prediction: Bautista)

    Consensus: 2-1 Bautista

    Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern

    Images: UFC.com

    Pranav Pandey: Mackenzie Dern got the better of Virna Jandiroba when they first met nearly five years ago at UFC 256, but a lot has changed since then. Dern has definitely added new layers to her game and shown flashes of improvement, yet her performances still feel hit-or-miss. That inconsistency makes it hard for me to back her with confidence this time around. On the other hand, “Carcará” has been on an absolute tear, putting together a dominant five-fight win streak against some top-level competition. Despite being a bit older than Dern, I think Jandiroba is the more complete fighter at this stage, more composed, and more calculated. With the strawweight title now up for grabs, I expect her to come in with extra fire and finally get her revenge. (Prediction: Jandiroba)

    Thomas Albano: This is a rematch of their UFC 256 bout in December 2020, which saw Dern come away with a decision win – though if you ask some MMA fans, they’d feel that wasn’t the right call. Most MMA media, however, agreed with Dern getting the nod, and most are expecting she’ll get the nod again when they meet in a five-round fight with vacant gold on the line. While Jandiroba is an excellent grappler, she’s going to be in for a ride to try and do battle with the expert level, world championship caliber jiu-jitsu of Dern. Additionally, Dern has made strides in her striking, albeit it’s still not the greatest, and she has the power, size, and strength to give Jandiroba a hard time with pressure. All the signs in this one say Jandiroba puts up a fight, but it’s Dern who walks away the new champ at 115. (Prediction: Dern)

    Ryan Jarrell: Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba met five short years ago and now the two top strawweight fighters will vie for the vacant strap in the co main event of a very exciting main card. The first go round saw Dern win a unanimous decision and I expect the same to happen in the rematch. Jandiroba has 14 submission victories in her career, but Dern is an elite BJJ practitioner and has never been submitted in her professional MMA career. I believe the physicality and strength that Dern possesses will help her win in the 50/50 scrambles and allow her to out point her way to the victory and title. (Prediction: Dern)

    Consensus: 2-1 Dern

    Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane

    Images: UFC.com

    Pranav Pandey: This one’s a pretty easy call for me, I’m rolling with Tom Aspinall all day. Don’t get me wrong, Ciryl Gane is one of the most skilled heavyweights on the roster, but I just don’t see anything in his overall game that poses a serious threat to the reigning champ. “Bon Gamin” has looked slick in moments, but over the last couple of years, many of his performances have felt flat and uninspired, even in victory. Aspinall, on the other hand, is a complete package – fast, explosive, and absolutely lethal wherever the fight goes. I think he overwhelms Gane early with his pressure and speed, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a quick finish. In my opinion, Gane won’t be able to survive that early onslaught for long. (Prediction: Aspinall)

    Thomas Albano: It’s a shame this fight isn’t taking place in Europe. Because while I know not everyone is excited about this fight, it’s still a heavyweight title fight and it features two of the best fighters out of that continent right now. That said, there’s clearly one better fighter here, and that’s the current heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall. Aspinall is a stud because he’s light on his feet with power in his hands. Can he take out Gane with power like he has most of the heavyweight division? Sure. But Gane is skilled and powerful on the feet as well. I see Aspinall pressuring Gane before ultimately doing the very same thing that Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones did in their title fights against Gane – get the fight to the ground. I expect Aspinall to score a takedown and finish the fight in the first round with either a submission or a TKO through some brutal ground-and-pound. (Prediction: Aspinall)

    Ryan Jarrell: I am convinced that Tom Aspinall will go down as the greatest heavyweight the sport has ever seen. He obviously has the power of an elite heavyweight. But what may be more impressive is he moves like a welterweight. I just truly believe he is too dynamic for anyone in the division right now including Ciryl Gane. I will be shocked if this fight sees the second round and I expect Tom to finish Gane more impressively than Jon. (Prediction: Aspinall)

    Consensus: 3-0 Aspinall

    That’ll do it for our UFC 321 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section!

    Also, you can check out the full UFC 321 card below.

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
    • Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern
    • Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista
    • Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida
    • Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov

    Preliminary Card:

    • Lightweight: Nasrat Haqparast vs. Quillan Salkilld
    • Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov vs. JunYong Park
    • Lightweight: L’udovit Klein vs. Mateusz Rebecki
    • Lightweight: Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Heavyweight: Valter Walker vs. Louie Sutherland
    • Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. Jose Miguel Delgado
    • Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Chris Barnett
    • Flyweight: Azat Maksum vs. Mitch Raposo
    • Women’s Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim vs. Mizuki