UFC heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall is hoping for a super quick turnaround after his UFC 321 main event at the end of October.
Aspinall takes on Ciryl Gane in the first defence of the UFC Heavyweight Title, and has expressed his desire at fighting again before the end of the year.
Tom Aspinall Wants Two Fights Before End Of Year
Tom Aspinall is the king of the UFC heavyweight division right now, but has had to endure a lengthy period on the sidelines.
The British MMA star hasn’t fought since knocking out Curtis Blaydes inside a minute at UFC 304 last July, but is set to return on October 25 finally.
Aspinall’s period of absence has been been a frustrating one. Through no fault of his own, Aspinall has been forced to wait on the decision of Jon Jones, who ultimately relinquished his belt and retired from MMA.
With Jones retiring, Aspinall was then upgraded the champion. Hence why he will defend his UFC Heavyweight Title against Ciryl Gane in the UFC 321 main event on October 25 in Abu Dhabi.
Aspinall is the 1/4 favourite with UFC betting sites to beat Gane, who himself is the 3/1 underdog. This comes as no surprise given how dominant Aspinall has been throughout his entire UFC tenure.
Depending on how his UFC 321 showdown with Gane plays out, the heavyweight king could well fight against before the end of the year. With no weight cut to worry about, this is a genuine possibility.
Should Aspinall make light work of Gane and take no damage, he could theoretically fight against before 2025 comes to a close. This is something the 31-year-old is keen on doing, but admits he knows it could be unlikely.
Aspinall Wants Another Fight After Ciryl Gane Before The New Year
Although Tom Aspinall has made it abundantly clear that he wants another fight before the end of the year after UFC 321, he is realistic. The 31-year-old knows that scheduling issues make it highly unlikely.
After UFC 321 on October 25, there will be just two pay-per-view cards left before 2025 comes to a close. Other champions will be campaigning to fill the headline slots, which is why the British MMA star feels his chances of fighting again before the end of the year are rather slim.
In a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, Aspinall expressed his desire to fight against after his Ciryl Gane clash at UFC 321. When asked if he wanted to fight twice before the New Year, Aspinall said:
“I’d like to. It’s just getting the UFC on board with it. They’ve got pay-per-view guys who want to headline another card.
“If I can fit into another card later this year, I will. If not, it will be as soon as possible next year,” concluded the UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Dana White’s plan totally depends on Tom Aspinall’s next fight and how he fares against Ciryl Gane. If he wins in emphatic fashion and takes no damage himself, he could well get squeezed onto another card before the end of the year.
If not, it will be early next year that MMA fans see Aspinall back inside the octagon.
Could Tom Aspinall Fight Jon Jones At UFC White House?
Should Tom Aspinall beat Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, he will likely fight again early next year if not before the close of 2025.
Fighting in the first few months of 2026 seems more likely, with Aspinall trying to get active again as soon as possible. Should he win at UFC 321 and again in early 2026, there could be a colossal clash on the cards for him come summer next year.
UFC President Dana White revealed further UFC White House plans for the July event on the South Lawn in Washington DC, and Aspinall could well be a part of those plans.
A certain Jon Jones has expressed an interest at coming out of retirement to fight at UFC White House. If this is the case, then MMA fans could finally get to see the Jones vs Aspinall clash at UFC White House next July.
The likes of Conor McGregor has also expressed his interest in headlining UFC White House, but this depends on whether the Irishman can get back into fighting shape and begin training everyday.
Tom Aspinall vs Jon Jones for the UFC Heavyweight Title in the UFC White House main event most definitely appeals. Whether or not this is a legitimate option for Aspinall remains to be seen.
