Tom Aspinall said he is ready to go the distance with Ciryl Gane if that is what’s required of him, warning the Frenchman that many have tried to “drag him into deep waters” only to regret it.
Much is being made of the fact that Aspinall has never fought beyond the second round in his 18-fight MMA career, and that Gane’s ability to manage distance could be the equaliser in keeping the heavyweight champion at bay until the later rounds when they meet at UFC 321 on Saturday.
“Did he actually use the words 'deep waters?',” asked Aspinall at Wednesday’s media day at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island. A collective nod from the assembled reporters confirmed in the affirmative, something which elicited a complete about-face in Aspinall from jovial to something far more sinister.
“Everyone who uses the words ‘deep waters’ with me gets knocked out in the first minute. Go back and check. All the media that’s ever been done. So, pretty happy with that. That’s good.”
It was the only time Aspinall responded to questions with a scowl rather than a smile. He quickly reverted to type though, joking that his prediction was to “win the fight by controversial split decision, neither of us taking any risks and lots of fans booing at the end”.
What should not be lost is the fact that no one has been good enough to take the 32-year-old Englishman into a third round, let alone five.
Aspinall has lost three times in his career; one of them he was disqualified for an illegal downwards elbow and the second he blew his knee out in the first 15 seconds against Curtis Blaydes.
Bulk, speed, knockout power in both hands and a ground game the envy of many, Aspinall is one of the most well-rounded fighters in his or any other division, a fact Gane was only too willing to acknowledge during his media session.
Aspinall was equally keen to point out Gane’s strengths, saying they matched up well together.
“We don’t move like heavyweights,” said Aspinall. “We’ve both got good footwork, we both manage the distance well. We don’t just go in swinging; we’re both technical, tactical, good movers, big athletic guys. I think it makes for a good match.”
Aspinall rejects comparisons to the legendary Jon Jones or any other fighter for that matter.
When The National put it to him that UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping compared him to Muhammad Ali, Aspinall responded: “I don’t know about that one, mate. Where’s he pulled that one from?
“That’s a massive compliment, but I’ve still got a bit of work to do before then.”
This will be Aspinall’s first title defence as undisputed heavyweight champion. He was handed the belt by UFC president Dana White after Jones retired in June.
Jones is now adamant about a return to the octagon, targeting the UFC event slated to take place at the White House on July 4 next year with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira a potential opponent.
Should that pan out, it would again scupper Aspinall’s chances to test himself against a man many regard as the greatest of all time in Jones.
Aspinall spent as much time answering questions about a fight that is happening as one that isn’t. When asked what he thought about Jones sidestepping him to potentially face Pereira, Aspinall replied. “If that’s what he wants to do, I wish him well.”
Jones won the heavyweight title in 2023, submitting Gane via guillotine choke. His long period of inactivity left the heavyweight division in turmoil while he mulled his decision.
Aspinall has an entirely different approach, saying he wants to be an active champion: “In my opinion, that's how champions are supposed to work. It's like you're the guy and then you find the next guy, prove you’re best, and, you ride that as long as possible."
For Gane, the majority of questions centred around his two previous attempts at UFC gold. He came up short on both occasions, dominated by Francis Ngannou for most of the five rounds at UFC 270 before tapping out to Jones at UFC 285.
“This is a big challenge, and everybody knows that,” said Gane. “I have been training since March, trying to prepare for this as Tom was already interim champion before he was the real champion, so there was always a chance we would meet.
“This fight the pressure is different to Francis and Jon Jones. The first fight [against Ngannou] there was so much pressure. Against Jon Jones it was a little less and now even less against Tom.
“I’ve had a solid camp and I am ready. I know my strengths, I know his strengths, very technical, very fast on the feet. But I am ready to become champion on Saturday.”
Saturday will be something of a full-circle moment for Aspinall. His first two UFC fights took place on Fight Island, when Abu Dhabi helped the UFC keep the sport alive during the Covid-19 pandemic. Aspinall even called the UAE capital a “second home”.
“I absolutely love Abu Dhabi, love to fight here,” he said. “For me personally, it’s very convenient. It’s six hours away from my home in Manchester, the weather is amazing, the people are amazing. If I could do the rest of my career here, I’d choose that over any other place in the world.”
Dunki
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Specs
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THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
BMW M5 specs
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Power: 727hp
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DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
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The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
