Can we expect a dominant display or ring rust from heavy favourite Tom Aspinall at UFC 321? The champion returns to the octagon for the first time in over a year against Ciryl Gane
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UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall returns to the octagon for the first time in over a year tonight - as the Brit goes head-to-head with former champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi.
Aspinall - who had been jockeying for a blockbuster showdown with all-time great Jon Jones but ultimately failed - decided to take on another risky challenger in Gane.
Similarly to Aspinall - Gane has been quite inactive - with the Frenchman fighting just once in the last two years.
However - he is one of the best strikers in the UFC today - and should he find his range early in the fight, he could pose plenty of problems for Aspinall.
Can we expect a dominant display or ring rust from heavy favourite Tom Aspinall at UFC 321?
That's easier said than done - with Aspinall having established himself as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC.
With the blockbuster match-up in mind - let's take a look at the Fight Outright, Featured Price Boost and Price Boosts markets on offer for tonight's main event at the Etihad Arena.
Fight Outright
Aspinall enters as sizeable favourite to have his hand raised - with the Wigan native an extremely short 1/4.
Conversely, Gane is an 11/4 outsider to upset the applecart, according to Sky Bet.
Aspinall has beaten every opponent he has faced in nine UFC appearances to date, while Gane has suffered two losses - a razor-close decision defeat at the hands of Francis Ngannou, before being submitted in just over two minutes by the aforementioned Jones.
Can Gane return to the winner's circle in a major upset? Or, will Aspinall's stock rise even further with a dominant showing? We will have to wait for find out.
Featured Price Boost
The Featured Price Boost - which has been enhanced from 7/4 to 9/4 - requires Aspinall to win in round 1.
Aspinall has recorded a staggering seven first round knockouts in his nine UFC fights so far. Additionally, he boasts the shortest average fight length in UFC history at two minutes, two seconds.
Price Boosts
There are four Price Boosts on offer for this intriguing match-up - the first of which needs Aspinall to win by submission or Gane to win by decision at 5/2.
Aspinall has recorded three submission wins in his career thus far, while Gane's victory over Alexander Volkov in December came by decision.
Meanwhile, the other three boosts are for Aspinall to win by submission via rear-naked choke at 5/1, Gane to win in round 4, 5, or by decision at 15/2, and Aspinall to win and both fighters to be knocked down at 15/2.
Aspinall defeated UFC veteran Andrei Arlovski by rear-naked choke in 2021, while Gane has four decision victories across his career to date.
- All odds are correct at the time of publication
