All articles tagged with #heavyweight title
Tom Aspinall's heavyweight title defense at UFC 321 was declared a no contest after an accidental eye poke from Ciryl Gane in the first round, preventing the fight from continuing. Aspinall, visibly affected by the injury, expressed disappointment as the match was halted early, with both fighters showing sportsmanship and regret over the incident.
Tom Aspinall defends his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, with the event also featuring a strawweight title fight between Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern. Aspinall, on a three-fight winning streak, aims to make a significant impact, while Gane seeks his third title challenge. The event is closely followed by ESPN analysts.
UFC 321 takes place in Abu Dhabi with Tom Aspinall defending his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in the main event, marking Aspinall's first undisputed title defense after Jon Jones vacated the belt. The event also features a vacant women's strawweight title fight between Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern, along with several other bouts. The card is available on ESPN+ PPV.
Ciryl Gane criticized Tom Aspinall's pre-fight technique of putting his hands on opponents' shoulders, calling it 'stupid,' ahead of their UFC 321 heavyweight title fight, which is highly anticipated and could impact Gane's record in title challenges.
Tom Aspinall dismisses Ciryl Gane's strategy of dragging the fight into deeper waters, confidently predicting a quick KO based on his past fights ending early. Aspinall emphasizes his respect for Gane's skills and readiness for a tough fight, aiming to prove he's on Jon Jones' level by defending his heavyweight title at UFC 321.
Tom Aspinall is set to defend his undisputed heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, marking their fourth scheduled matchup after Gane previously declined three fights. Aspinall, who recently unified the heavyweight title after Jon Jones' retirement, aims to solidify his position by defeating Gane, who is on his third title shot.
Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones should be stripped of his UFC heavyweight title due to his apparent disinterest in fighting and lack of motivation, suggesting the UFC move on and give the title to other contenders like Tom Aspinall.
UFC CEO Dana White has set a deadline of a few weeks to finalize the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall heavyweight title unification fight, indicating if the deal isn't made soon, the UFC will move on to other contenders, amid ongoing negotiations and Jones's uncertain retirement plans.
The UFC heavyweight division faces controversy as Jon Jones is urged by fighters and fans to relinquish his title and fight interim champion Tom Aspinall, with some calling for his retirement if he refuses, amid ongoing efforts to arrange the bout.
Dana White compared the difficulty of negotiating with Jon Jones to that of Anderson Silva, highlighting ongoing challenges in arranging Jones's heavyweight title fight, amid recent controversy and fan petitions, but White remains confident the fight will happen.
Dana White confirmed that Jon Jones has accepted the deal to fight Tom Aspinall for the UFC heavyweight title, expressing hope that the fight will happen despite ongoing social media disputes and public frustration. White emphasized that unless officially announced, rumors should be disregarded, and he remains committed to making the fight happen.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones dismissed a viral petition calling for him to be stripped of his title, with Dana White also downplaying the petition's significance. Despite ongoing tensions and social media exchanges, White did not rule out a fight between Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall, even suggesting Jones has agreed to the bout, though no official fight has been scheduled. The heavyweight division remains stalled with two champions and no clear unification fight in sight.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic announced his retirement following a third-round knockout loss to Jon Jones at UFC 309. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Miocic reflected on his career, expressing gratitude to his supporters, coaches, and opponents. He recounted his journey from fighting in local venues to headlining at Madison Square Garden, and thanked his team and family for their unwavering support throughout his career.
Jon Jones, after defending his UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic, expressed reluctance to fight interim champion Tom Aspinall unless he receives substantial financial compensation, which he refers to as 'f–k you money.' Jones finds Aspinall annoying and feels he doesn't need the fight, whereas Aspinall does. UFC President Dana White indicated that the winner of the Jones-Miocic fight should face Aspinall in a title unification bout, but Jones prefers a match against Alex Pereira. Miocic announced his retirement post-fight.
Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is confident he will face Jon Jones next to unify the heavyweight title after receiving a signal from UFC executives Dana White and Hunter Campbell. Aspinall, who was the backup fighter for UFC 309, witnessed Jones' victory over Stipe Miocic and noted the UFC brass pointed and winked at him during Jones' post-fight speech, indicating a potential matchup. Aspinall believes this fight is highly anticipated by fans and the UFC, marking a significant moment in MMA.