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Tom Aspinall Calls 4,000-Day Glory Kickboxing Champ His ‘Best’ Sparring Partner to Counter Ciryl Gane at UFC 321

Originally posted on EssentiallySports
By Biplob Chakraborty | Last updated Oct 20, 2025 1:37 PM ET

After Jon Jones retired from the UFC, it marked the end of Tom Aspinall’s reign as the longest interim champion in UFC history. Now, as the undisputed heavyweight champion, the Brit is set to make his first title defense against the dangerous Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 on October 25, which would also end his year-long hiatus. To ensure a strong comeback, Aspinall has assembled a team of elite experts to sharpen his game, which now includes a reigning Glory Kickboxing champion to help push him toward greatness.

For a long time, Aspinall’s team included his father and head coach, Andy Aspinall, legendary Croatian boxing coach Stipe Drews, and rising UFC heavyweight star Ante Delija. With that crew, he’s dominated every 265er the UFC has put in front of him. But now, as the Juggernaut of Manchester prepares to defend his title for the first time, he’s leaving no room for compromise. That’s why he’s called in his “best” sparring partner, Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, the reigning Glory heavyweight champion for over 4,000 days, to help him prepare for Ciryl Gane.

Glory heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven joins Tom Aspinall’s UFC 321 camp

At the UFC 321 countdown video, Aspinall said, “Rico is the Glory Kickboxing heavyweight champion. He has been heavyweight champion over 10 years, the best kickboxer in the world. And Ciryl Gane, he’s got a kickboxing-heavy style. Rico came; he’s here to help me. He brings knowledge that nobody else in the world can. It’s the best sparring I can get, really.”

For the unversed, Rico Verhoeven has been a professional kickboxer since 2008, competing in multiple promotions around the world. However, the Dutchman rose to fame through his dominant run in Glory Kickboxing. Though not undefeated, ‘The Prince of Kickboxing’ has beaten every opponent he’s faced over the last decade (2015–2025), maintaining an incredible 4,000-day reign as champion. In his last bout at Glory 100, Verhoeven defeated Alex Pereira’s former opponent, Artem Vakhitov, as well.

So without a doubt, Tom Aspinall has struck gold by bringing in a mentor with such an incredible streak. Well, it’s also worth noting that the reigning heavyweight champ averages just 2 minutes and 2 seconds of fight time — the lowest in UFC history. And if he sharpens his kickboxing skills even more and ends up countering Gane in Abu Dhabi, that number might stay the same as well. But it’s not just the Brits’ fighting ability that makes him more dangerous than ever.

Aspinall’s teammate Verhoeven firmly believes it’s his willingness to learn — despite being the heavyweight champion of the world — that makes him a special individual and a tremendous fighter.

Verhoeven appreciates the UFC heavyweight champion’s willingness to learn

Getting better in mixed martial arts is a learning process that goes far beyond a fighter’s active years of professional competition. And Tom Aspinall is a fighter who’s always hungry to learn and add new weapons to his arsenal. That quality impressed even a Glory Kickboxing champ like Rico Verhoeven, who was very appreciative of it as well.

Continuing the UFC 321 countdown video, the Dutch kickboxer added, “Tom’s striking ability is on elite level, in boxing, but also in kickboxing and definitely in MMA. That’s why he’s the heavyweight world champion, because he’s so all-rounded. What I really like, every time he wants to learn. It’s so nice to teach somebody that’s on a really good level and still like so eager, like, ‘Give me more, give me more.’ And I was just like pour more on him.”

As UFC 321 approaches rapidly, fans are eager to see whether Tom Aspinall can once again establish his dominance against the formidable Ciryl Gane, who’s known for moving like a middleweight inside the octagon. While many believe the Brit will indeed win and score another first-round finish, it’s worth noting that the Frenchman has shared the cage with both Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. And although he lost both fights, that’s still valuable experience to have.

That said, what do you think happens in Abu Dhabi? Will Aspinall retain his title, or will Ciryl Gane pull off an upset? Let us know in the comments below.

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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