Tom Aspinall received several year-end accolades shortly after UFC 323. The heavyweight champion watched what might be his last UFC pay-per-view of 2025 from home on Sunday morning. He was surprised to see his favorite, Merab Dvalishvili, fall to Petr Yan in the main event. Additionally, Aspinall found it difficult to watch the rematch where Alexandre Pantoja’s flyweight title reign ended due to an arm injury in the co-main event. Following the event, Aspinall shifted his focus to another MMA star.
Ilia Topuria, despite only competing once this year, left a strong impression on Aspinall. Topuria delivered a devastating knockout against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June, earning the vacant lightweight championship title. Aspinall believes this victory deserves Topuria two major year-end honors. When asked about the best fighter of 2025, Aspinall stated, “The one that stands out for me is Ilia Topuria,” praising him as “an incredible person.” Regarding the knockout of the year, Aspinall said, “I’m a little biased, but it’s Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira. This is one of the best knockouts I’ve ever witnessed live, and the atmosphere that night was incredible. That’s the standard we’re aiming for this year.”
Recently, it was revealed that Paddy Pimblett will battle Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title. Just hours before UFC 324’s main event announcement, Topuria announced a pause in his fighting career. He shared on social media that he will not compete in the first quarter of next year due to personal challenges, prioritizing his children and resolving these issues. He also expressed his reluctance to stay in the division but assured that he will inform the UFC when he is ready to return.
Fan Take: This news is significant for fight fans because Aspinall’s respect for Topuria highlights a shift in the MMA landscape, with rising stars making huge impacts despite limited fights. Topuria’s temporary hiatus adds intrigue to the lightweight division, potentially reshaping title contention and rivalries in the near future.
