On the same day that UFC CEO Dana White announced UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ retirement from the UFC, White also announced that the interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall was elevated to undisputed champion, ending a period of uncertainty for the heavyweight division.
This weekend, the organization will return to Abu Dhabi for UFC 321, a pivotal event that will shape the landscape of the heavyweight division, and possibly the entire UFC, in the post-Jon Jones era. Aspinall will make his debut championship defense against Ciryl Gane, a dynamic striker who will make yet another attempt to win the undisputed belt.
This main event signals a changing of the guard in the weight class and is a stylistic clash between two of the heavyweight division’s most athletic fighters.
Tom Aspinall
Champion Tom Aspinall embodies the modern, agile heavyweight. Since his UFC debut in 2020, he has been a force of nature, showcasing a well-rounded game that has led to dominant victories. His journey to the undisputed title was meteoric, capped by a 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich to win the interim belt at UFC 295, and another knockout performance in his interim title defense against Curtis Blaydes.
He brings a well-rounded game of fast, efficient striking blended with quick level changes and strong top control. The British fighter has been dominant in the UFC, with seven first-round stoppages among his victories and only one of his UFC fights reaching the second round.
His ability to transition seamlessly between striking and grappling presents particular problems for Gane, who has shown that he struggles with fighters who can mix it up.
Ciryl Gane
Gane, the number one-ranked heavyweight contender, is a unique challenger in the heavyweight division. A former high-level Muay Thai practitioner, he transitioned to MMA and quickly rose through the ranks with his movement and technical striking that was ahead of most of his heavyweight competition. He captured the interim UFC heavyweight title in 2021 by knocking out Derrick Lewis, but his two previous attempts at the undisputed title ended in defeat, first by decision to Francis Ngannou and then by submission to Jon Jones.
He represents the most technical striking test of Aspinall’s career. The French former interim champion possesses quick footwork, decent range management, and precise timing, using movement and long-range tools to control distance and frustrate opponents.
Questions about his grappling defense persist, however, following previous title fight losses to Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.
Paths to Victory
The champion’s key to defending his belt is to close the distance without taking too much damage. Aspinall’s most reliable route to a win is to leverage his formidable grappling, an area where Gane has shown vulnerability in the past. If Aspinall can secure a takedown and bring the fight to the mat, his slick submission game and powerful ground-and-pound could bring a swift end to the contest.
Gane, however, must maintain distance and extend the fight. His striking volume could wear down the champion as the rounds progress, though this is a tall order that would require him to also be ready defensively for whatever blistering offense Aspinall throws his way.
Prediction
The start of the fight will be critical, with Aspinall likely to pressure Gane from the opening bell, forcing him backward and testing his takedown defense early.
If Aspinall finds an early takedown or lands a clean strike that so much as wobbles Gane, his superior finishing instinct will likely end the fight quickly.
Tom needs a decisive first-round victory to solidify his reign as the new king of the division and finally move the heavyweight era beyond the shadow of Jon Jones. An early finish would validate his status as the undisputed best and allow him to begin building his own legacy.
This urgency from Aspinall could turn into impatience, and Gane could capitalize on any presented openings if he can counter with clean volume while maintaining both his striking and takedown defense.
Gane will likely lose, however, and it would mark his third failure to capture the undisputed title, potentially cementing his status as an eternal heavyweight contender who could never quite win the real belt.
A win for Gane, though unlikely, would completely rewrite his narrative, finally achieving the ultimate goal and proving his critics wrong. It would also silence the critics of Jon Jones, who believed he was avoiding Aspinall, and could open up a clear path for the former heavyweight champion to come out of retirement.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
