Tom Aspinall Shares His Picks for UFC 333

The card features a total of 14 thrilling fights. In the main event, the current and two-time featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski defends his title against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev. In the co-main event of the night, bantamweight champion Petr Yan defends his title against Merab Dvalishvili. 

Also on the main card, No. 2-ranked heavyweight contender Rizvab Kuniev takes on Alexander Volkov. Before the co-main event is a flyweight match-up between No. 6-ranked contender Lone'er Kavanagh and Ramazan Temirov.

The main card also features a featherweight clash between No. 11-ranked contender Aaron Pico and short-notice opponent Losene Keita. Pico was originally slated to face Arnold Allen at UFC 333 until the British fighter had to withdraw.

Tom Aspinall picks Alexander Volkanovski to beat Movsar Evloev at UFC 333

The former heavyweight champion believes 38-year-old  Alexander Volkanovski will prove the odds-makers wrong by defeating Movsar Evloev this Saturday night. For the co-main event, Aspinall has picked Yan to defeat Dvalishvili again.

Coming to the remaining three bouts on the main card, Aspinall has picked Lone'er Kavanagh to defeat Ramazan Temirov, Alexander Volkov to defeat Rizvab Kuniev and Aaron Pico to defeat Losene Keita.

When will Tom Aspinall return?

Tom Aspinall was expected to rematch Cyril Gane this year after Gane knocked out Alex Pereira at the White House to become the interim champion. However, that title unification clash is no longer happening.

Aspinall had to vacate his heavyweight title due to ongoing eye issues. Gane, the double-eyed, poked him last year at UFC 321, after which Aspinall's first undisputed title defence ended in a no contest. The British fighter had to undergo multiple eye surgeries and take eyeball injections. Yet so far his eyes have not recovered fully.

Aspinall injured his right eye while sparring a few months back. Doctors have advised him to stop training for now and focus completely on recovery. An eye scan next year will help determine how well Aspinall's right eye has healed, after which he has to be cleared by a doctor and then by the commission before serious comeback talks can begin.

He did not want to hold up the division and hence decided to vacate.

Following his vacancy, Gane was promoted from interim to undisputed heavyweight champion and will now defend his belt against Josh Hokit at UFC 334.