Reigning Champion Tom Aspinall Faces Ciryl Gane in Pivotal UFC 321 Heavyweight Title Clash

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight division is poised for a defining moment this Saturday, October 25, 2025, as undisputed champion Tom Aspinall prepares to defend his title against the formidable No. 1 contender Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. The highly anticipated bout headlines a stacked card emanating from the Etihad Arena at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with the main card commencing at 2 p.m. ET following preliminary bouts that kick off at 10 a.m. ET.

Aspinall’s ascent to the pinnacle of the heavyweight division has been nothing short of meteoric. The 32-year-old Briton initially claimed the interim UFC heavyweight championship with a dominant first-round knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023. He further solidified his claim by successfully defending the interim title with another emphatic knockout, this time against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July 2024. His status was officially elevated to undisputed champion on June 21, 2025, marking the culmination of a rapid and impressive rise through the ranks. Aspinall enters this contest with a professional record of 15-3, boasting an impressive finishing rate with 12 victories by knockout and three by submission.

Since making his professional debut in December 2014 in Manchester, England, Aspinall has consistently demonstrated his elite striking and grappling prowess. His UFC career, which began in July 2020, has been characterized by explosive finishes, earning him Performance of the Night honors a remarkable seven times – a feat that ties him for fourth-most in UFC history. A testament to his efficiency and power, Aspinall holds the shortest average fight time in UFC history at just 2 minutes and 2 seconds, alongside the second-most knockdowns per 15 minutes at an astounding 4.09. His exceptional performances have garnered significant recognition, including being ranked ninth for UFC Newcomer of the Year in 2020 and third for UFC Submission of the Year in 2022. The year 2024 saw him capture two prestigious MMA awards: Breakthrough Fighter of the Year and Comeback of the Year, the latter following his redemptive victory over Blaydes, who had previously defeated him due to injury in July 2022.

Across the Octagon stands Ciryl Gane, a technical and agile heavyweight with an equally compelling career trajectory. The 35-year-old Frenchman, fighting out of Paris, initiated his professional mixed martial arts journey in August 2018, quickly establishing himself with three consecutive knockout victories that drew the attention of the UFC. He made his promotional debut in August 2019, securing a submission win over Raphael Pessoa at UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2. Gane embarked on an undefeated streak, winning his first ten professional matches, which included a third-round knockout of Derrick Lewis to capture the interim UFC heavyweight championship and a Performance of the Night bonus in August 2021.

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Gane’s professional record stands at 13-2, showcasing a versatile skill set with six knockout victories, three submissions, and four decisions. Despite a brief setback in a title unification bout against Francis Ngannou and a subsequent loss to Jon Jones, Gane has remained a top contender, reaffirming his elite status with a recent split decision victory over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310 last December. His career highlights include being ranked as the UFC’s second-best Newcomer of the Year in 2019 and the third-best Fighter of the Year in 2021. In 2022, his thrilling third-round knockout of Tai Tuivasa at UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa was recognized as the seventh-ranked Fight of the Year.

The betting markets at leading sportsbooks like DraftKings indicate Aspinall as the clear favorite, with odds set at -345 (requiring a $345 wager to win $100). Gane, conversely, enters the contest as the underdog at +275. This disparity reflects Aspinall’s recent dominant performances and rapid finishes, but Gane’s technical striking, movement, and experience at the championship level present a significant challenge. The stylistic matchup promises an intriguing clash between Aspinall’s explosive power and relentless pace versus Gane’s calculated approach, exceptional footwork, and diverse striking arsenal.

Beyond the main event, UFC 321 features a compelling co-main event for the women’s strawweight championship, where Mackenzie Dern (-148) is favored against Virna Jandiroba (+124). This bout pits Dern’s world-class jiu-jitsu against Jandiroba’s well-rounded grappling and improving striking, promising a high-stakes encounter in a competitive division.

For those seeking expert analysis and betting predictions, SportsLine’s resident MMA analyst Daniel Vithlani has provided detailed insights. Vithlani, known for his analytical approach to UFC betting, has established a consistent winning record since his debut in January 2023, notably achieving a 5-0 record for UFC 283. His track record includes being up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks and accurately calling upsets such as Sean O’Malley (+210) against Aljamain Sterling (-250) at UFC 292. At UFC 299, Vithlani successfully picked underdogs Dustin Poirier (+190) against Benoit Saint Denis (-230) and Michael Page (+110) against Kevin Holland (-130).

Among his disclosed predictions for UFC 321, Vithlani has identified Jose Delgado (-155) to defeat Nathaniel Wood (+130) in a featherweight preliminary card matchup scheduled for approximately 11:45 a.m. ET. Vithlani articulated his rationale, stating, "Delgado is a rising featherweight prospect who looks to be legit. Training out of MMA Lab gym, Delgado is a rangy and explosive striker who throws nasty knees and elbows. In his last fight, Delgado knocked out a fighter with great durability in under 30 seconds. Standing 5-foot-11 with a 73-inch reach, Delgado is big for the weight class and will have a considerable size advantage. Wood is a tactical kickboxer with strong UFC experience, and he will provide a step-up in competition for Delgado. However, I don’t think he’ll be able to outpoint Delgado for three rounds. Delgado is the more dangerous and aggressive fighter, and he’s never been finished in his young 10-1 pro career. I think Delgado’s size and pressure will win him this fight."

The full main card for UFC 321, with current odds, includes:

Tom Aspinall (-345) vs. Ciryl Gane (+275) – UFC Heavyweight Championship
Virna Jandiroba (+124) vs. Mackenzie Dern (-148) – Women’s Strawweight Championship
Umar Nurmagomedov (-625) vs. Mario Bautista (+455) – Bantamweight
Alexander Volkov (+164) vs. Jailton Almeida (-198) – Heavyweight
Aleksandar Rakic (-118) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (-102) – Light Heavyweight

Each matchup on the main card carries significant divisional implications. Umar Nurmagomedov, an undefeated bantamweight prodigy, aims to continue his dominant ascent against the tough Mario Bautista. The heavyweight division also sees a compelling clash between the experienced Alexander Volkov and the rapidly rising Jailton Almeida. In the light heavyweight division, Aleksandar Rakic faces Azamat Murzakanov in a bout that could propel the winner closer to title contention. As fight night approaches, all eyes remain on the Etihad Arena, where the heavyweight championship will be contested in a pivotal showdown for the division’s future.