Tom Aspinall is now the undisputed heavyweight champion, prepared to make his title defense.
Over the last two years, Aspinall has been embroiled in the uncertainty around Jon Jones, but with Jones retired (at least for now), Aspinall has stepped up as the champion. His first challenge as the undisputed titleholder is against former interim champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
This marks Aspinall’s second title defense (his first as the undisputed champion), and it’s a crucial moment after the Jones saga. It’s clear he aims to win, but how vital is it for him to kick off this new heavyweight era successfully?
1. How much pressure is on Tom Aspinall against Ciryl Gane?
Martin: The pressure on Tom Aspinall is indeed substantial.
For nearly two years, Aspinall has been recognized as the top heavyweight and sought a fight with Jon Jones, aiming for a major UFC event. However, with Jones vacating the title and retiring, Aspinall is now the clear champion. His upcoming opponent, Gane, is considered the next best in the division, despite having faced setbacks against Jones and Ngannou in previous matches.
To remain at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division, Aspinall must not only win but do so convincingly. If he handles Gane smoothly, it will reinforce his position as the top fighter, especially in such a lackluster heavyweight division.
While Aspinall certainly wants to win, losing doesn’t necessarily doom him. Even if he loses, he’ll likely get another shot due to the division’s current state.
2. Can Virna Jandiroba or Mackenzie Dern carry Zhang Weili’s mantle?
Martin: The answer is unlikely.
Following Zhang Weili’s reign as one of the greatest women’s fighters, it’s tough for anyone to step up. Jandiroba, at 37, may only have one shot at the title, while Dern, despite her early hype, has faced challenges in past fights.
To outshine Zhang, the upcoming titleholder must deliver an exceptional performance and follow it with successful defenses, or they might always live in Zhang’s shadow.
3. What non-title fight are you most interested in?
Martin: Despite the heavyweight division’s issues, Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida could be pivotal for a future title shot.
Meshew: While the featured bout is certainly noteworthy, I’m intrigued by the quirky heavyweight matchup of Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Chris Barnett.