Newly crowned undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall has shifted his focus from the long-anticipated matchup with Jon Jones towards another opponent he has wanted to face for some time.
Aspinall held the interim championship for a significant period, with his quest for undisputed status repeatedly stalled due to the inactivity of Jon Jones.
The heavyweight division finally saw the return of a single champion after 19 months, a resolution that did not occur through the expected unification bout between Jones and Aspinall.
Instead, Dana White announced Jones’s retirement last Saturday, which promoted the British fighter directly to the undisputed heavyweight champion. This development allows Aspinall to move forward and concentrate on the top contenders within the division.
Although no official announcement has been made, signs indicate that Aspinall’s next fight could be a bout that has been discussed for a considerable time.
Tom Aspinall Anticipates Fighting Ciryl Gane, Believes He `Owes Him a Beating`
Following the confirmation of Jones’ unexpected retirement, discussions immediately turned to potential opponents for Aspinall’s first title defense, nearly a year after he won the interim belt by defeating Curtis Blaydes.
Currently, three names are considered top contenders: Ciryl Gane, Jailton Almeida, and Alexander Volkov. Gane, a former interim champion from France, is widely seen as the most probable next opponent.
This potential matchup appears favorable to Aspinall, who has expressed a desire to face ‘Bon Gamin’ as retribution for previous instances where Gane seemingly avoided his challenges a couple of years prior.
Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Aspinall stated, “I’ve actually fought a lot of the top 10. One of the guys I’ve not fought is Ciryl Gane, a French guy.”
He added, “I was actually chasing that fight a few times before. He was ducking and diving around himself a little bit. He is due a little bit of a beating off me. I look forward to that.”
Aspinall also mentioned other potential opponents, saying, “There’s a couple more guys down the rankings, a Brazilian guy, Jailton Almeida, I’ve not fought. There’s a guy I’ve already beat called Alexander Volkov who’s doing really well for himself as well.”
Ciryl Gane Confirms Negotiations for Bout Against Tom Aspinall are Ongoing
The likelihood of an Aspinall vs. Gane fight increased following recent statements from the French contender.
Appearing on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, Gane stated that his manager has engaged in positive discussions with the UFC regarding his potential return to a championship fight, his first since his significant loss to Jon Jones in March 2023.
Gane quoted his manager as saying, “My manager talked to the matchmaking, with Hunter (Campbell). I know they’re working on it this week, and we can keep in touch. Nothing is fixed yet, we’re just waiting for more discussions and maybe a location and date. We are really confident of this fight happening.”
This development might be disappointing for Alexander Volkov, especially given that many observers felt he should have won his fight against Gane via judges’ decision at UFC 310 last December.
Jack Thornley