“Worst Custom Shorts” – Fans Blast UFC’s Design for Tom Aspinall Fight Gear

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall gets his custom shorts for the upcoming title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.

“Worst Custom Shorts” – Fans Blast UFC’s Design for Tom Aspinall Fight Gear

Tom Aspinall shows his custom shorts (via X)

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The stage is set for the highly anticipated heavyweight title clash between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. The heavyweight title fight will headline the card at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, drawing immense global attention from MMA fans. Ahead of the fight, Aspinall prepares to defend his title for the first time, with new custom UFC shorts.

Custom shorts have become a trend in the UFC since the milestone event of UFC 300, where several fighters debuted personalized designs. Since that moment, more athletes have started receiving customized venom shorts, especially when competing on pay-per-view main cards. During UFC 304, Aspinall didn’t get his personalized pair when beating Curtis Blaydes, but this time, he finally has.

Look at them. They are nice, aren’t they? Obviously got the UK flag on. We have this on because I’m from a minimum town. 

Tom Aspinall via UFC 

While Tom Aspinall was clearly thrilled to receive his new custom UFC shorts, fans didn’t seem to share his excitement. Many viewers criticized the overall design, calling it plain and uninspired compared to other fighters’ vibrant and creative gear. Fans usually appreciate shorts that represent a fighter’s personality, heritage, and fighting spirit through meaningful patterns and colors.

Some of the most popular UFC custom shorts belong to bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, featuring red, white, and gold colors.  The shorts also include red crosses inspired by the Georgian flag, proudly representing his national identity and cultural pride. Khalil Rountree’s shorts were admired for their Thai script and Yin Yang symbol, celebrating his Muay Thai background. 

Meanwhile, Alex Pereira’s UFC 300 shorts displayed red tones with native Pataxo patterns, beautifully honoring his indigenous Brazilian roots. The UFC’s collaboration with Venum to introduce customizable fight kits has received overwhelming support from fans across different MMA communities.

Reports suggest that most percent of fans have expressed positive reactions to fighters showcasing personalized designs inside the Octagon. These custom shorts go beyond regular sportswear, symbolizing emotional storytelling and strengthening connections between fighters and their passionate supporters.

This connection has boosted fan engagement and loyalty, leading to a rise in purchases of official fight gear. UFC custom shorts have significantly helped the organization increase merchandise sales, due to fighters’ fan following. 

In 2025, the current light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, became the fighter with the most merchandise sales. At UFC 321, Tom Aspinall has an opportunity to increase his fan following with a win and potentially sell more merchandise. 

Fight fans react to Tom Aspinall’s new custom shorts 

Heading into UFC 321, Tom Aspinall enters the Octagon as the clear betting favorite to defeat French contender Ciryl Gane. Known as one of the most dangerous knockout artists on the current UFC roster, Aspinall possesses extraordinary finishing power. The British champion rarely spends much time fighting, with most of his dominant victories coming within the first round. 

Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane (via X)

Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, Aspinall confidently promised to knock out Gane and issued a stern warning. According to Aspinall’s coach and father, Andy Aspinall, Gane doesn’t have anything that can create problems for Aspinall. Nevertheless, here are the reactions from fans following the UK native’s custom shorts.

As expected, many fans expressed disappointment with Tom Aspinall’s new custom shorts, flooding social media with funny and sarcastic comments. Several users joked that the design looked rushed, claiming absolutely no effort was put into creating the champion’s fight gear. Others mocked the shorts as dull and uninspired, even comparing their plain look to Aspinall’s calm personality.

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