If Tom Aspinall has his way, Cirl Gane won’t be getting another crack at UFC gold.
Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) returns to action after more than a year on the sidelines to defend his now-undisputed heavyweight title for the first time against Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in the main event of UFC 321. Somehow, the two have managed to miss each other on their ascents to the top of the division.
Gane has lost two title opportunities, and Aspinall intends to give him strike three.
“This is the fourth time that we’ve been matched up together,” Aspinall said in a video on his YouTube channel. “Me and Ciryl got in the UFC around about the same time. I think he was there a little bit before me – he had a couple more fights than me. … Now we are matched up, the 25th of October, Abu Dhabi. Me and Ciryl – the fourth attempt is here, and this is Ciryl’s third title shot. So, we are going to try and get rid of Ciryl Gane from the title picture for good.”
For the past year, Aspinall has been waiting for Jon Jones to deliver on a title unification bout. Aspinall won the interim heavyweight title in November 2023 by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich, and defended it against Curtis Blaydes last July. Jones decided to retire and relinquish the title instead of giving Aspinall the chance to become undisputed in the cage.
Despite the time off, Aspinall believes he will display the best version of himself yet in Abu Dhabi.
“I am the best heavyweight in the world, but I want to show everyone that I’m the best heavyweight in the world,” Aspinall said. “(The time off) is no problem for me – ring rust is all mental, anyway. I’m happy to get back in there, get stuff moving, and get after it again.”
Aspinall acknowledges that Gane brings a unique look to the octagon as a heavyweight competitor. Gane’s speed and elusiveness were a problem for each of his competitors, leading to him capturing the interim title by defeating Derrick Lewis at UFC 270 in 2021. Since Aspinall has similar traits, he expects the title fight to be one of the most exciting in the sport’s history.
“I think both me and Ciryl are very – we both have a niche style for heavyweights,” Aspinall said. “We don’t fight like heavyweights, both of us. So, this could be the fastest, the best-moving heavyweight fight that anybody’s ever seen. We’re both great movers, we’re both light on our feet, we’re both elusive – so, this is going to be great.”
