If you didn’t know any better, you’d think Nasrat Haqparast was the one taking the fight on 10 days’ notice.
UFC 321: Aspinall vs Gane | SUN 26 OCT 5AM AEDT |The Heavyweight belt is on the line as undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall makes his first title defence against former interim champion Ciryl Gane, in Abu Dhabi.| Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
But in just his third UFC fight, Quillan Salkilld has well and truly put himself in the frame for a shot at a much higher ranked opponent next after sending Haqparast crashing to the canvas with a contender for Knockout of the Year.
In concerning scenes, Haqparast was left unconscious for several minutes after a perfectly-timed head kick from Salkilld put him out cold.
Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier described it as “one of the craziest knockouts” he had seen “in a very long time” and speaking to Cormier in the octagon after the fight, Salkilld called for the $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
“I’m just happy to be here,” Salkilld said.
“10 days’ notice, a 13-kilo cut, wicked opponent, a big step up for me, and for it to end like that I think I definitely deserve a bonus after that 100 per cent.
Salkilld is now 3-0 in the UFC and 10-1 as a pro, having exploded onto the scene in the UFC with a vicious 19-second finish of Anshul Jubli.
The Australian told Cormier he wants a “opponent in the top 15” next.
“I understand, it’s only my third fight and if there’s someone else, but my eyes are on the top 15 on the rankings,” he said.
RETIRED UFC LEGEND ‘NOT SOLD’ ON ASPINALL HYPE… YET
Dricus du Plessis believes “all the hype is real” when it comes to UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, but former interim lightweight title holder Dustin Poirier isn’t so sure.
Aspinall headlines UFC 321 in his first title defence since Jon Jones retired in June, which saw the Brit claim the throne having captured the interim belt at UFC 295 with a knockout win over Sergei Pavlovich.
Aspinall has only fought once since then, bettering that 69-second knockout of Pavlovich to finish Curtis Blaydes in just 60 seconds at UFC 304 in July 2024.
This will be a stiffer challenge for the champion as he faces off with former interim heavyweight title holder Ciryl Gane, who is hoping to become undisputed champ in his third attempt.
Gane previously fought Jones and Francis Ngannou for the crown, coming up short on both occasions, but has been given his shot at Aspinall after a decision win against Alexander Volkov at UFC 310.
Du Plessis, the UFC’s former middleweight champion, told Fight Forecast that he doesn’t think there is any other “heavyweight in the world that can even compete” with Aspinall on the feet, declaring the “hype is real”.
Poirier, however, wants to see a bit more. Specifically, he is hoping Gane can take Aspinall into at least the second round given the champion averages an all-time UFC record low of two minutes and two seconds of fight time.
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“Tom Aspinall is good, but everybody is so high on him,” Poirier told MMA Junkie.
“What’s his longest fight in the UFC? I’ve never seen a guy in the third round, I’ve never seen him have to fight himself back into a fight. I’ve never seen him on the stool bleeding.
“I want to see him in a real fight. He’s been blowing past these guys, and for a reason. He’s a great fighter, explosive, skilled, but I’ve never seen him really tested.
“Until I’ve seen him tested and fight himself back in a fight and win, I can’t be on the same train as everybody else waving that flag. People are talking like he’s the next biggest thing, and he might be, but I’m not sold yet.”
While Aspinall’s highly-anticipated return to the octagon headlines Sunday’s card, another title is on the line in the co-main event when Virna Jandiroba takes on Mackenzie Dern for the vacant women’s strawweight championship.
Speaking to foxsports.com.au earlier in the week, Dern said she was quietly confident despite Jandiroba entering Sunday on a five-fight win streak and as the division’s top-ranked contender.
“I don’t think she’s ever fought five rounds (in the UFC) before,” Dern said.
“I think my cardio improves during the later rounds. You know, I start to get better instead of going down.
“I think I’ve been battle tested a lot, not just against her. I feel like she’s gonna have to do a lot to stop me, because she wasn’t the hardest puncher.”
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