🔥 The stage is officially set for UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and challenger Ciryl Gane came face-to-face for the final time at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins — and the tension was electric.
With the undisputed heavyweight title on the line, Aspinall exuded confidence as he stared down Gane in front of a roaring crowd, vowing to deliver one of the best performances of his career.
“This is going to be a very special performance tomorrow night, guys,” Aspinall told fans. “Make sure you tune in. This is big.”
The heavyweight showdown
Aspinall enters UFC 321 as the heavy favorite, having dominated nearly every opponent he’s faced inside the octagon. His only loss came via a freak injury against Curtis Blaydes, a setback he later avenged in spectacular fashion in June 2024.
Known for his lightning-fast movement and elite finishing ability, Aspinall has ended eight of his UFC bouts by knockout or submission, cementing his status as one of the most dangerous heavyweights on the planet.
Meanwhile, former interim champion Ciryl Gane remains calm and collected. The Frenchman simply told the crowd:
“Very glad to be here, see you Saturday, thank you.”
Though Gane has fallen short in his biggest moments, including losses to Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou, he remains one of the most technical strikers in UFC history — a puzzle that even the best heavyweights struggle to solve.
Co-main event: A new strawweight queen to be crowned
In the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba clash for the vacant strawweight title, following Zhang Weili’s move up to challenge Valentina Shevchenko at flyweight later this year.
Dern, one of the most decorated grapplers in women’s MMA, is eager to make history — especially with her daughter Moa in attendance.
“I feel ready,” Dern said. “It’s going to be an amazing fight. I think we’re going to show that there’s going to be a new queen of strawweight. I’ve never lost a fight with Moa in the crowd, and I don’t plan on doing that tomorrow.”
Her opponent, Jandiroba, is equally motivated — and determined to avenge her 2020 loss to Dern.
“Everything is different,” Jandiroba said. “It’s been five years. We’ve both developed a lot, but I believe I’m in the best moment of my life, and everything’s going to be different come Saturday night.”
With two titles on the line and stars like Islam Makhachev, Belal Muhammad, and Kamaru Usman in attendance, UFC 321 is shaping up to be one of the most explosive cards of 2025.
All eyes will be on Tom Aspinall — and whether his promise of “a very special performance” becomes another highlight-reel finish in Abu Dhabi.
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