When the going will get powerful, can Tom Aspinall rise to the event?
Aspinall is ready to place his undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship at stake in opposition to Ciryl Gane in the primary occasion of UFC 321 on Oct. 25. It’ll be Aspinall’s first battle because the undisputed titleholder, a distinction that was given to him after Jon Jones retired from professional MMA competitors.
Whereas Aspinall is understood for being an thrilling heavyweight with knockout energy, some marvel how he’ll fare in uncomfortable conditions. It’s a query that Jailton Almeida posed throughout an look on “The Ariel Helwani Present” (through MMAMania.com).
.@Malhadinho_UFC nonetheless has some questions round Tom Aspinall’s recreation:
“We’ve not seen [Aspinall] preventing from his again, which is one thing that I am actually curious to see how he goes about it.
I do not assume he is ever been pressured as a lot as we would wish to see somebody being… pic.twitter.com/qkR6i3RuN6
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 29, 2025
“We haven’t seen [Aspinall] preventing from his again, which is one thing that I’m actually curious to see how he goes about it,” Almeida informed Ariel Helwani. “I don’t assume he’s ever been pressured as a lot as we would wish to see somebody being pressured to essentially perceive who they’re. I believe that there’s nonetheless some stuff to be checked with Aspinall. He’s a incredible fighter, however I believe there’s nonetheless some issues that we have to see.”
Almeida then claimed he’d give Tom Aspinall a run for his cash utilizing his grappling.
“I’m extra explosive than anyone [Aspinall] has confronted, particularly on the grappling facet of issues — I believe it will in all probability develop as a grappling battle,” the No. 5-ranked Almeida continued. “He’s a [Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu] black belt, however there’s ranges to being a black belt. I believe that I’ll have the ability to take him into deep waters as soon as we get to the grappling facet of issues.”
“Malhadinho” will probably be preventing on the identical card headlined by Aspinall vs. Gane. The grappling specialist will meet Alexander Volkov. A formidable exhibiting might earn Almeida a title alternative in opposition to the winner of the UFC 321 important occasion.
Following a letdown in opposition to Curtis Bladyes, Almeida has scored two first-round finishes in a row. Time will inform if he can hold the momentum going.