With Tom Aspinall now a few months into being the undisputed champion in his class, the discussion of where he sits among ‘the best of all time’ is well and truly underway, and if you ask one fellow MMA pro, he’s already “the greatest heavyweight” in the history of the UFC.
If you ask us, we’d still like to see the now highly unlikely fight between him and Jon Jones, just to have it on record, but we have no shame in admitting we lean towards our Greater Manchester bias.
Nevertheless, these are bold claims made by fighting peer Ian Machado ‘The Future’ Garry, who touched on the Atherton-born in a recent interview.
He had plenty of big words about his own potential bout against outspoken American competitor, Sean Brady, but also spent some time sharing his reverence for Tom ‘Honey Bagder’ Aspinall. It’s not the first time he’s shared his fandom either.
Speaking to GamesHub ahead of the local athlete’s next match-up against Ciryl Gane, Garry said simply: “Tom Aspinall sparks him. I don’t see that fight getting out of the first round, right? I think Tom is phenomenal.
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“I think he’s absolutely the best heavyweight we’ve ever seen in the UFC, and now he’s got the belt, he is the champion.”
Aspinall is set to take on the 35-year-old next month in Abu Dhabi, and was met with a somewhat surprising chorus of boos when he appeared at the most recent Fight Night in Paris last week.
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Then again, you could argue it was nothing more than a crowd full of Gane’s compatriots backing the Frenchman; either way, the Wigan warrior didn’t let it faze him much, simply allowing his native opponent to take the spotlight and largely shrugging off the reaction.
On the other hand, his attendance at the Accor Arena wasn’t entirely negative, as he was able to watch his Croatian teammate, Ante Delija, win on his UFC debut – the reaction to which saw Aspinall painted in a much more favourable light.
We’re sure these emotional scenes won over a few new fans.
Once again, Tom Apsinall will face Ciryl Gane in just a matter of weeks and is still being heavily considered the favourite – but is there a chance the underdog could surprise and deliver a shock result against the Manc mauler and reigning heavyweight champ?
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As for Garry, the Irishman may not be on the fight card for UFC 321 on October 25, but it’s clear he’s pushing to book a date with ‘ducking’ Brady, going on to tell the outlet: “I’m in a position where I have proven time and time again that I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime, and I’m as game as game gets.
“So I want it publicly announced that if me and Sean Brady are fighting, it’s the number one contender fight. So Sean Brady should shut up and let me do all the heavy lifting, and he just needs to show up on fight night and lose. I have never ducked anyone in my life and I never will.”
What do you think: is Tom Aspinall the greatest heavyweight the UFC has ever seen, and if not, would you really want him to humour the rather bizarre notion of putting him to the test against Jon Jones, even though Dana White has already ruled him out?…
Featured Images — @C0MB4TT (via X)/TNT Sports (screenshot)/Hftrt275 (via WikiCommons)
Sport
Manchester Storm’s ‘own and loan’ scheme returns for 2026/27
Danny Jones
Manchester Storm have relaunched their much-loved ‘own and loan’ programme once again ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Having gone from a cult favourite option for die-hards to an increasingly popular choice among their growing number of supporters, it’s a great way for fans to get their hands on what could go on to be priceless collectables.
Set up over a decade and a half ago, the initiative has gone on to be replicated by multiple clubs in the Elite Ice Hockey League, across the country, and indeed beyond.
For anyone unclear on what exactly this scheme means for them, here’s all you need to know.
The own and loan sponsorship is essentially an opportunity not only to support the club and your favourite player, but to essentially reserve a valuable piece of match-worn memorabilia.
Put simply, fans can buy a squad member’s jersey and then loan it back to them for the season.
The shirt – be it home, away, created for cup tournaments or a special limited-edition sweater (of which MCR Storm have designed many over the years) – will then be worn throughout the course of the campaign before being given back to the owner, i.e. you.
Not just simply buying the shirt, but helping back the team’s talent, it’s one of the most direct ways people can contribute to the club.
The Greater Manchester side pioneered the push for this initiative here in the UK in the early 2010s, and with the local side now set to return to the AO Arena, where their journey began way back in 1995, you can expect plenty to mark the comeback with a special sponsored jersey.
Anyone who purchases an away strip will have their name featured throughout home games for the duration of the season – not a bad gift or way to secure a potential future collectors’ item.
You can see every player available to sponsor and find out all the information you need right HERE.
For regular matchgoers at the ‘Storm Shelter’, we’re sure it’ll be bittersweet to say goodbye to Planet Ice Altrincham, but just how excited are you about heading home to the AO Arena later this year?
Featured Images — Manchester Storm (publicity picture)/The Manc Group
Sport
League One set for an all-Greater Manchester playoff final as Bolton book trip to Wembley
Danny Jones
It’s official: we’re all set for a fully Greater Manchester League One playoff final as Bolton Wanderers are the latest to secure a return to Wembley against Stockport County.
The resurgent old Lancashire club clinched their spot in the knockout conclusion of the third division with a single strike in the second leg of the semis, and it wasn’t a bad finish, either.
Beating Bradford City 2-0 on aggregate, Bolton will now play familiar regional rivals Stockport, with Wanderers set to clash with County in a decisive derby once again.
Bolton‘s instinctive volley from Chelsea youth product and former Hull City man, Xavier Simons, resulted in some very satisfying limbs at Valley Parade.
The home fans did have plenty to cheer on the night, with efforts from Metcalfe, Power and Wright all either hitting the woodwork or being deflected just past it.
They thought they were level in the tie at one point after Kayden Jackson put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ultimately ruled out.
Agonising stuff for the Bradford supporters to burst into bedlam before the flag was raised for offside.
Many supporters will argue that the key moment came somewhat against the run of play, but The Trotters won’t care one bit as they book another trip down to the capital.
You can watch the rest of the highlights, including those scenes in the away end, down below.
Speaking even before the game, head coach Steven Schumacher told Sky Sports: “It’s a club we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.
“The expectation and the demand to get to the Championship is there, and once you’re in the building and you feel the mood when you win games, when you lose games, you can sense that this is a club that is desperate to get out and get to the next level.
“When you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well they are supported, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves, and one of us has got to find our way out of it if we can.”
You’d dare say he can practically smell promotion via the playoffs now; the local side has come quite a way since the lows of administration in 2019 and the bottom tier of the EFL – not without some heartbreaks in previous playoff finals – but could he be the one to get them back where they belong?
In case you missed the action from the other game, you can see more HERE, and to hear Schumacher’s thoughts after the decisive result, look no further…
Danny Jones -
9th September 2025 
