Jon Anik believes Tom Aspinall is in one of many greatest high-pressure spots we’ve seen in latest UFC historical past.
The undisputed heavyweight champion places his newly-minted title on the road in opposition to Ciryl Gane in the principle occasion of UFC 321 this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Aspinall makes his first look since his profitable interim championship protection in opposition to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July 2024.
All the hype since that combat was on a possible unification bout in opposition to Jon Jones, however finally Jones introduced his retirement and vacated the championship. Following that transfer, the UFC instantly promoted Aspinall to undisputed champ.
With Jones behind him, and now a matchup with Gane — the place Aspinall is a heavy betting favourite — Anik, who calls the motion at UFC 321 with Daniel Cormier and Laura Sanko, sees the burden of the world on Aspinall’s shoulders.
“Properly, neglect any stress put upon him by his expensive good friend and my good friend and broadcast accomplice, Michael Bisping, being prompt that Tom Aspinall goes to not solely go down as the best British combined martial arts athlete of all time, however actually one of many all time greats,” Anik informed MMA Combating. “However his fan base has swelled exponentially due to the entire Jon Jones circus/train, proper? Ciryl Gane has gotten numerous alternatives. He’s a credentialed heavyweight. He’s an excellent striker. Seemingly, there was an urge for food for enchancment within the wrestling and grappling areas. However Tom Aspinall is anointed. We went again, Kenny Florian and I did for UFC Combat Move this week, and watched a number of the early movie and even then, you’ll be able to simply see shades of greatness.
“So I feel there’s all the time been stress on Tom, however as a result of he didn’t get the Jon Jones combat and since he’s now the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, by no means thoughts the truth that he’s a 4-to-1 favourite on this loopy sport, might you think about if [next Monday], we’re all doing our podcasts and exhibits and speaking about Tom Aspinall not holding function the favourite? It will be loopy, I feel, in some other sport, proper? 4-to-1 favorites don’t lose fairly often in sports activities. So, yeah, there’s numerous stress on Tommy, and I do know he eats it like a f*cking sandwich. … I imply, my gosh, man, there have been a ton of stress spots, proper? Khabib [Nurmagomedov] and Conor each of their rivalry, after all, and I feel again to love the stress Dustin was dealing with within the second Conor McGregor combat. I imply, there are a ton of stress spots, proper? , Dustin Poirier couldn’t afford to lose that second combat to Conor McGregor, however Tom Aspinall can’t afford to lose at UFC 321.”
Gane will get his third alternative on the undisputed title, though the vast majority of the MMA neighborhood, together with UFC CEO Dana White, really feel Gane was handed a present by the judges in his controversial determination win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310 this previous December. In his earlier two makes an attempt, “Bon Gamin” fell to Francis Ngannou by determination after which bought the chance to welcome Jones to the heavyweight division after “The Predator” exited the UFC as a free agent to signal with PFL, which left the belt vacant.
Jones submitted Gane in fast order to develop into a two-division champ.
There’s actually stress on Gane to achieve this combat as this can be his final probability to name himself an undisputed UFC champion. So the stress is actually excessive on each side, and whereas Aspinall nonetheless has loads of time to return to the drafting board and reclaim that championship, Anik believes a loss to Gane could possibly be etched in our recollections for a very long time in relation to the all-time nice dialogue over time.
“So I’m an MMA fan, and I feel in our dialog that comes throughout: Should you don’t suppose, over final week, sooner or later, I’ve referred to as my twin brother, whom I discuss to eight occasions a day, and mentioned, ‘Dude, are you able to think about if Tom Aspinall f*cking loses?,’” Anik mentioned. “After all, that dialog has occurred. I’m only a fan at my core. It will be insane. However something can occur in combined martial arts, and Ciryl Gane is greater than something. He has greater than a puncher’s probability, however it will be loopy to stroll into that world.
“However by way of how it will have an effect on Tom, what are the targets right here? Proper? As a result of he’s going to understand monetary freedom. This man goes to make a ton of cash, even when he, quote, unquote, slips on a banana peel at UFC 321, I’d anticipate him to return and develop into the undisputed heavyweight champion once more. I feel he’s that good. I’m way more aligned with Michael Bisping than not by way of how nice Tom Aspinall may be. That’s why there’s numerous stress. Numerous stress to carry serve right here, and I feel he has an important probability to just do that.”
