Tom Aspinall wants to make his first undisputed UFC title defense at UFC 321 a special win.
The heavyweight champion headlines the UFC pay-per-view opposite Ciryl Gane and ahead of Saturday’s main event, the two faced off at the end of Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins.
Watch the headliner staredown below.
Aspinall is a heavy favorite going into the fight, having only lost once via a freak injury against Curtis Blaydes in his UFC career. Outside of that, Aspinall has finished eight opponents inside the octagon, including Blaydes in their rematch at in June 2024.
The British star promised to deliver again when he takes on Gane.
“This is going to be a very special performance tomorrow night, guys, make sure you tune in,” Aspinall said. “This is big.
Gane was also succinct with his post-staredown comments, addressing the crowd and saying, “Very glad to be here, see you Saturday, thank you.”
In the co-main event, strawweight contenders Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern vie for a vacant 115-pound belt, with Zhang Weili dropping the title to challenge flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko in December.
Dern, a decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor, made her MMA debut in 2016 and is relishing her first UFC title opportunity. She also expects to get an extra boost 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 with me in the crowd, so I don’t plan on doing that tomorrow.”
As for Jandiroba, she’s not only eager to become champion, but also to avenge a decision loss to Dern in their first meeting in 2020. “Carcara” has won five straight fights and expects her rematch with Dern to go her way this time.
“Everything is different,” Jandiroba said. “It’s been five years. I think we’ve both developed a lot, but I believe that I’m in the best moment of my life and everything’s going to be different come Saturday night.”
