Backstage at UFC 321, emotions ran deeper than the typical pre-fight nerves and post-fight adrenaline. In a touching interaction caught on camera by Team Aspinall, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Andy Aspinall, Tom Aspinall‘s father and coach, shared a rare, vulnerable moment about loss, legacy, and life after fighting. Both men found common ground in silence as much as in words, as they shared the mutual grief of losing their fathers.

Andy said gently, “My father died after yours. It’s no good.” To which Khabib gently asked, “How old he was?” Andy responded, “88. He lived a good life. Your father was young,” Nurmagomedov’s tone turned wistful. “56. He was young. But this is life. We cannot control this.” The interaction was brief, yet it carried enormous weight: two men from different worlds, united in their belief that some wars cannot be won.

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s tone changed later in the video, from sorrow to encouragement. He addressed the Aspinall camp with his characteristic honesty and care, as he called out Jon Jones for wasting the prime years of Tom Aspinall by ducking the fight for more than a year before announcing a retirement back then.

He said, “You guys are the best fight. I know you guys lose last one and half year, because you guys were waiting, waiting, waiting. When you’re on top and you’re losing your best… time never come back.” ‘The Eagle’ further added, “But anyways, you guys are the best. Good luck!” It was both a compliment and a warning, coming from someone who has been to the top and realizes how fast time can pass.

It’s worth noting that Khabib Nurmagomedov also gave the Briton some last-minute advice before his heavyweight title fight against Ciryl Gane on the same night. The retired champion, known for his perfect 29-0 record and unrivaled fighting IQ, advised Aspinall to take Gane down and control the fight from the ground.

He said, “Use everything together — wrestling, pressure, boxing, everything. Because [Gane] doesn’t have this ability… When you use your punches and then takedown, it’s going to be tough for him.” Though the fight finished in chaos due to an unintentional eye poke, which resulted in a no-contest, the emotional moments exchanged backstage lasted longer than any punch or submission attempt.

The Dagestani’s father’s passing continues to echo through every arena he enters. Andy Aspinall saw it as a reminder that, whether in success or failure, legacy —  the love between fathers and sons — transcends the sport. And the love between the Aspinalls was clearly visible for all to see in another behind-the-scenes video shared by the fighter’s social media, and he revealed some more post-fight footage from UFC 321.

Tom Aspinall shares emotional behind-the-scenes of UFC 321

The somber tone continued as Tom Aspinall finally broke his silence following the dramatic conclusion to UFC 321. In a brief social media video, the heavyweight champion provided fans with a view into the aftermath, which was marked by uncertainty, anguish, and disbelief rather than celebration. His words, “All that training for that,” captured the misery of a fight that was supposed to define his legacy but instead ended in frustration.

The clip also had a raw interaction with Daniel Cormier, in which Aspinall, visibly upset, discussed the eye poke that cost him his moment to shine. “Twice before he got warned for it, and f—— did it again,” he said, echoing the disbelief of fans who witnessed the incident in Abu Dhabi. Behind the stinging fury was a sense of helplessness, the kind that comes when months of sacrifice are erased in an instant.

Even Cormier, a veteran of the sport, could only nod in frustration. But perhaps the most striking section of the video came from Tom’s father. Andy Aspinall, the same father who had shared a private, emotional moment with Khabib hours before, talked from a place that all parents might understand. “Mike Bisping, he lost his eye… it’s horrendous for me to look at,” he said, his voice heavy with fear.

His concern extended beyond titles and rankings to his son’s health, his family, and the human cost of fighting. And in that moment, it became clear that UFC 321, more than a night of unfinished business, had become a night of vulnerability, with Khabib and the Aspinalls united by their mutual grief of loss and love.