The UFC makes its return to American soil under a cloud of silence following a controversial pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi. On November 1, ‘Sin City’ hosts UFC Vegas 110, though the pre-fight excitement remains unusually quiet. With just hours to go before fight night, the card has struggled to generate momentum. The featherweight main event between Steve Garcia and David Onama has received only mild attention, while much of the spotlight has drifted toward Tom Aspinall’s close friend, who continues to dominate headlines outside the Octagon.

Yes, we’re talking about Ante Delija, the former PFL champion now making waves in the UFC heavyweight division. After making his promotional debut earlier this year under Dana White’s banner, Delija is now set for his second Octagon appearance. The UFC has shown great faith in the Croatian powerhouse, booking him in the co-main event against the Dominican Republic’s Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a heavyweight clash that promises fireworks.

Delija may be new to the UFC, but he already carries the endorsement of his friend and teammate, Tom Aspinall, who believes he has what it takes to become a future heavyweight champion. Training under Aspinall’s father, Delija has developed his skills under expert guidance, shaping himself into one of Croatia’s most promising fighters. Ahead of fight night, the UFC spotlighted the matchup on social media, posting pre-fight images of both athletes on X with the caption, “All checked in for fight week.”

Despite an action-packed card featuring more than a dozen bouts across the prelims and main event, it’s Ante Delija’s co-main showdown that has captured most of the attention. Just a week ago, Tom Aspinall even declared he would rather vacate his belt than fight his teammate and friend. For Delija, a former PFL champion, this late arrival to the UFC has not stopped him from becoming a fan favorite. Here’s how fans are reacting ahead of UFC Vegas 110.

Supporters back Tom Aspinall’s friend for a dominant showing at UFC Vegas 110

Last week, an accidental double eye poke from Ciryl Gane forced a no-contest, ending the thrilling showdown in frustration for Tom Aspinall at UFC 321. Before the event, Aspinall mentioned he might vacate his belt for his training partner, Ante Delija, which drew criticism from UFC CEO Dana White, who called the idea “insane.” It’s easy to see why, considering the heavyweight division has already faced long stretches of inactivity in recent years.

Delija, meanwhile, appears to be closing in on a title opportunity, reportedly just “2-3 fights away” from contention. The Croatian heavyweight is set to compete at UFC Vegas 110, where fan confidence in him remains high. One supporter wrote, “Delija easy money,” while another chimed in, “Ante ‘Three Nips’ Delija.”

Interestingly, Tom Aspinall’s recent comments line up with his father’s outlook on his future. Andy Aspinall revealed that Tom has only three fights left on his current UFC contract and may soon explore a move to boxing.

“Boxing, for sure. The money is, more money… And I don’t want to sign a new contract,” said Andy Aspinall. With one professional boxing fight already on his record, a transition isn’t out of the question for the British star-though it’s still too early to say if he’ll make that switch. As UFC Vegas 110 approaches, the MMA world doesn’t seem fully invested in the upcoming event.

Others criticized the event’s lineup, with one fan saying, “Not a single fight on the card I’m interested. It’s sad to see how watered down the overall product is.” Still, not all sentiment has been negative. Many fans remain optimistic about fight week, with one comment stating, “Nice to see everything is in order for fight week,” and another adding, “Looking forward to an intense fight week with some top-tier talent ready to shine!”

After a sluggish buildup, UFC Vegas 110 is finally picking up steam. Fans remain divided, with some eager for action and others unimpressed by the lineup. One fan captured the growing buzz, saying, “This fight week is going to be amazing!” With opinions split ahead of the event, what’s your take on the UFC Vegas event? Share your thoughts below.