UFC 321: Heavyweights Take Center Stage In Abu Dhabi
By Simon Head for MyMMANews.com
The Octagon heads to the United Arab Emirates this weekend for UFC 321, with the undisputed heavyweight title on the line in the main event in Abu Dhabi. But the event features a quartet of heavyweight bouts, each showcasing fighters with a point to prove as they look to round out 2025 with career-enhancing victories.
TOM ASPINALL VS CIRYL GANE
For Tom Aspinall, UFC 321 offers the chance to cement his status as the world’s premier heavyweight after blasting his way to the top of the division as he captured the interim crown. Such was his run of form, Jon Jones opted to retire rather than face him in a title unification bout, and Aspinall was promoted to undisputed champion as a result.
Now the Brit takes on France’s Ciryl Gane, a former interim champion with significant stand-up skills, but he has been exposed on the ground. Against Aspinall, who has the ability to finish fights quickly on the feet or on the ground, the onus will be on Gane to set the tempo and force Aspinall onto the back foot for the first time in his UFC career. If he doesn’t, “Bon Gamin” could be in big trouble.
Aspinall has been the UFC’s de facto heavyweight champion for a while now, and with wins over the second, third, fourth, seventh and 10th-ranked contenders already on his resumé, the Englishman is undoubtedly the most dominant force in the division. If he blasts past Gane in the same way he’s demolished the likes of Curtis Blaydes, Sergei Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov, he’ll be undeniable as the UFC’s king of the heavyweight division.
To get up-to-date betting insight on the fight, check out the odds over at FIRST.com.
ALEXANDER VOLKOV VS JAILTON ALMEIDA
After years spent on the fringes of title contention, Volkov may be ready for a serious run at the title. Since his defeat to Aspinall in 2022, Volkov has defeated Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Alexandr Romanov, Tai Tuivasa and Servei Pavlovich.
That run came to an end when he lost a split-decision verdict against Ciryl Gane at UFC 310 in a fight many observers felt the Russian had done enough to win. It may have added a loss to his record heading into Saturday night, but for many, Volkov should really be on a five-fight win streak.
He’ll face a stern test of his credentials when he takes on Brazil’s Jailton Almeida, a prodigious grappler with a suffocating top game and the ability to submit just about anyone in the division on the mat.
Almeida has looked dominant through his eight-fight UFC run to date, winning seven and losing just once. That defeat came against Curtis Blaydes, whose takedown defense was good enough to prevent Almeida from implementing his usual gameplan as he stopped the Brazilian with hammerfists in the second round.
Almeida rebounded with back-to-back first-round finishes of Alexandr Romanov and Serghei Spivac to set up this weekend’s clash with Volkov. And with Volkov ranked second and Almeida listed fifth, the fight looks every bit a title eliminator, with the winner looking like the natural next fight for Saturday night’s main event winner.
VALTER WALKER VS LOUIE SUTHERLAND
If a frustrated fighter is a dangerous fighter, the heavyweight scrap between Valter Walker and Louie Sutherland should deliver fireworks at UFC 321.
Both men were booked to fight in the past month, only for last-minute opponent withdrawals to leave them without a dance partner on fight night. Thankfully, the pair have been matched together, with in-form heel-hook specialist Walter taking on the debuting former Levels Fight League champion Sutherland, who arrives in the UFC riding a four-fight win streak.
Walker has lost just once in his MMA career, and has heel-hooked each of his last three opponents, finishing Junior Tafa, Don’Tale Mayes and Kennedy Nzechukwu in the first round in successive fights.
Sutherland will want to keep it standing. Walker wants to take home another foot…
CHRIS BARNETT VS HAMDY ABDELWAHAB
Chris Barnett is one of the happiest, most fun heavyweights in the UFC. Standing at just five foot nine, the Spanish-born, Florida-based heavyweight has had the crowd on their feet with eye-catching victories over Gian Villante and Jake Collier. But he lost out to Nzechukwu last time out at UFC 208.
“Beast Boy” will look to bounce back against Egypt’s Hamdy Abdelwahab, who is 1-1 in the UFC, and coming off a decision loss to Mohammed Usman back in June.
Barnett will dance and entertain on his way to the Octagon, but he’ll have to be on his guard against Abdelwahab, who is desperate to avoid his UFC run dipping below 500.
