UFC heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall can be returning to motion this weekend in a division that appears considerably completely different than when he final appeared contained in the Octagon.
Aspinall most not too long ago headlined the London-held UFC Battle Night time card final July, marking his second consecutive essential occasion inside The O2. Whereas his first led to success courtesy of a submission victory over Alexander Volkov, his second culminated in catastrophe, with a severe knee damage bringing the Brit’s battle with Curtis Blaydes to a halt after simply 15 seconds.
On the time, Francis Ngannou sat on the throne whereas Jon Jones remained inactive. Now a 12 months later after finishing his restoration, Aspinall is returning to the fold with “The Predator” below contract with the PFL and with a boxing match in opposition to Tyson Fury pencilled into his calendar, and “Bones” with the heavyweight gold in his possession.
However as he gears as much as give attention to a brand new goal within the reigning kingpin, one acquainted face stays between Aspinall and the belt — Ciryl Gane.
Aspinall Assesses Doable Gane Battle Down The Line
Gane was tasked with welcoming Jones to heavyweight this previous March at UFC 285. The Frenchman finally supplied little resistance, with the previous two-time 205-pound champ blitzing him in minutes to safe gold in his new weight class.
Whereas already assured in his capability to get the higher of any and all challenges, Aspinall advised JNMEDIAUK that Jones’ show in opposition to Gane solely elevated his confidence about how he’d fare in opposition to “Bon Gamin.”
“Sure, (the Jones battle gave me confidence about dealing with Gane). The factor is, I am not simply gonna run cross the cage and take him down. I am gonna combine it up between strikes and takedowns to maintain him guessing,” Aspinall stated. “I actually extremely charge Ciryl. I feel he had a foul efficiency, yeah, however I feel he is a extremely good, high-level fighter. He is a former interim champion anyway, so the man’s positively obtained a giant future forward of him.
“We’ll see, we’ll see. We’ll cross that bridge once we come to it, I suppose. For the time being I’ve obtained a giant battle in entrance of me,” Aspinall concluded
Earlier than a potential collision contained in the cage down the road, each Aspinall and Gane may have separate assignments to finish.
The French star will return on dwelling soil this fall, dealing with the problem of Serghei Spivac within the second version of UFC Paris. And his English peer may even compete in entrance of his dwelling followers.
This Saturday, Aspinall will make the stroll inside The O2 nearly precisely a 12 months on from his tough damage setback on the identical venue. He’ll little doubt look so as to add a greater reminiscence to his profession in England’s capital on the expense of Marcin Tybura.
Throughout the pond we go ✈️🇬🇧Proper again at it this week with a battle of high 🔟 heavyweights! #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/0eAEs7AIby
— UFC (@ufc) July 17, 2023
Learn Additionally: Tom Aspinall Receives Cain Velasquez Comparability: ‘All The Expertise In The World, However Begins To Grow to be Harm-Susceptible’
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