Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has spent the final 12 months anticipating a title unification struggle in opposition to Jon Jones to be introduced. The match by no means got here to fruition.
Jones introduced his retirement in late June and Aspinall was elevated from the interim titleholder to the undisputed champion. It did not take lengthy after Jones’ retirement from UFC matchmakers to guide Aspinall’s first title protection because the undisputed titleholder. The hard-hitting Brit takes on former interim champion Ciryl Gane within the UFC 321 major occasion on Oct. 25 in Abu Dhabi and does not suppose the time without work can be an element.
“I’ve had large breaks earlier than. This is not. I’ve had three and a half years off of MMA combating earlier than, so that is no drawback for me,” Aspinall mentioned on his YouTube channel. “Ring rust is all psychological anyway, so I am glad simply to get again in there, get stuff transferring and get lively once more.”
Whereas Aspinall hasn’t fought in over a 12 months, he has been coaching the whole time. He stayed prepared for the decision and labored to enhance areas of his recreation. Ultimately, the layoff may have been helpful.
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“We are able to anticipate an improved model of me. I’ve had a 12 months to coach. I’ve had a 12 months to check my abilities and enhance and I will present everybody what that is all about on the twenty fifth of October,” he mentioned.
Aspinall anticipates an thrilling struggle in opposition to Gane in Abu Dhabi. He believes Gane’s weaknesses may be exploited.
“I feel it’ll be one of the thrilling heavyweight fights ever. I feel we’re very, very evenly matched. I feel he is weaknesses work to my strengths,” Aspinall mentioned. “It is simply going to be a loopy little bit of heavyweight motion for everyone to see.”
Gane final fought in December at UFC 310 choosing up a controversial resolution win over Alexander Volkov.
