Ali Akbar Rosady
The highly anticipated UFC 321 main event in Abu Dhabi, featuring Tom Aspinall’s inaugural defense of his undisputed heavyweight championship against fellow former interim titleholder Ciryl Gane, has been largely framed by the pervasive narrative of pressure. Both athletes arrive at Etihad Arena carrying significant burdens of expectation, albeit from differing circumstances.
Aspinall (15-3), who ascended to the undisputed throne following Jon Jones’s decision to vacate the title and avoid a potential unification bout, now shoulders the weight of being heralded as the division’s presumptive next superstar. Despite his rapid ascent and impressive record, questions persist regarding the full extent of his capabilities, particularly concerning his ground game and chin, which have yet to be thoroughly tested against elite competition. The 32-year-old from Salford, England, enters the contest as a substantial 4-to-1 betting favorite, a remarkable statistic considering he has never competed beyond the second round in his 18 professional fights, let alone the championship distance of five rounds he is slated to face this weekend.
However, the pressure is not unilaterally applied to the champion. Ciryl Gane (13-2) was quick to underscore this shared burden earlier in the week, acknowledging the inherent intensity of a championship bout. "I don’t think it’s about who has more pressure on their head and shoulders because I have the pressure, also," Gane stated to CBS Sports on Monday. "Every fight you have the pressure but, for the belt, there is a lot of pressure from the media and everywhere."
The current landscape of the UFC heavyweight division has undeniably contributed to the unique circumstances surrounding this matchup. Jon Jones’s brief vacating of the title and subsequent, albeit short-lived, retirement in June 2023, only accentuated the long-standing lack of elite depth within the weight class. This perceived stagnation, exacerbated by Jones’s prolonged avoidance of Aspinall, inadvertently created an opportunity for Gane, the 35-year-old French native, to secure a third shot at undisputed heavyweight gold. This opportunity, however, has not been without controversy, with many observers questioning the merit of his expedited path back to a title fight given his recent record.
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Ciryl Gane’s journey through the heavyweight ranks has been as unconventional as it has been rapid. His martial arts background is rooted in Muay Thai, a discipline where he achieved considerable success. Remarkably, Gane did not commence his mixed martial arts training until 2018. Yet, within a mere year and after only three professional fights, he made his UFC debut. His imposing 6-foot-5 frame, combined with an unparalleled dynamic quickness for a heavyweight, immediately set him apart. Gane compiled an unblemished 6-0 record in the UFC in less than two years, culminating in a dominant performance against Derrick Lewis at UFC 265 in 2021, where he secured the interim heavyweight title with a third-round stoppage. This meteoric rise led many to believe that "Bon Gamin" was poised to dominate the division for years to come.
However, the perceived flaws in his still-developing game and a general lack of extensive experience at the highest level began to surface. "I started [MMA] really late and everything looked like easy for me," Gane reflected. "When you are winning, you don’t have any questions about yourself."
The subsequent five fights over the next four years, spanning from 2022 to late 2023, generated considerable introspection and doubt regarding Gane’s long-term potential. His unification title loss to Francis Ngannou in January 2022, a closely contested unanimous decision, was later contextualized by the revelation that Ngannou had fought with severely injured knee ligaments sustained just three weeks prior. While Gane rebounded eight months later with a brutal knockout of veteran brawler Tai Tuivasa in Paris, the fight exposed vulnerabilities as Gane was visibly rocked and drawn into an unnecessary brawl.
The nadir of Gane’s professional career arrived in March 2023. Facing Jon Jones, who was making his heavyweight debut after a three-year hiatus, Gane suffered a swift and decisive defeat, submitted via guillotine choke in just over two minutes, offering minimal resistance. The loss, widely regarded as a significant upset, sparked intense criticism and a barrage of negative social media commentary. "My first loss against Ngannou, some people thought I won and it was very close, [so there was] not too much introspection," Gane explained. "But then, when you lose to Jon Jones, you stop everything and you turn off your phone and you talk with your coach and your family because it’s really hard at first. I’m a competitor and it’s really hard to lose like that. And the social media [reaction] was really hard, also. You have to be more focused on yourself."
Six months after the Jones defeat, Gane attempted to regain momentum by finishing the rising Serghei Spivac in less than two rounds, delighting his home crowd in Paris. However, even this victory’s momentum was short-lived. His most recent outing in December, a rematch against Alexander Volkov, resulted in a split-decision victory that drew widespread disagreement, including from outspoken UFC CEO Dana White, who publicly stated his belief that Gane had lost the contest. "I was really frustrated during this fight because I did a really good camp," Gane revealed. "[But] unfortunately, I broke my foot in like the very first minute. I was very frustrated, even though I won. It was a bad sensation but I had to calm myself and enjoy it and not be too hard on myself."
Despite the series of setbacks and the perception of a tenuous hold on his contender status, Gane approaches the Aspinall fight with a renewed sense of purpose. While some might assume he has little to lose given his recent history, a third defeat at the highest level within three years would almost certainly diminish any realistic prospect of another undisputed title shot. The constant scrutiny and negativity from media and fans regarding his perceived shortcomings have, however, served to fuel his resolve, particularly in addressing the consistent criticism of his ground game.
"People like to say I am not good in my ground game but I lost just one time [because of it] and it was against Jon Jones," Gane asserted, directly challenging a common misconception. "Trust me, I did this mistake [once] but I won’t do this mistake again. I have more wins [because of] my ground game than losses. People like to underestimate me on my ground game but I was never, never afraid to go to the ground."
Conventional wisdom suggests Gane’s optimal strategy against Aspinall would be to prolong the fight into the later rounds, mitigating the champion’s early power and speed. However, Gane dismisses the notion that this is his sole path to victory. "I can do both," he stated. "I can fight him like a dog in the very first round and I also can do [it] over five rounds. I’m not going to explain my tactic or gameplan but I can do both. Whatever is going to happen, I’m going to present and I’m ready for it. [Aspinall] is a very good fighter but me too, me too."
Gane’s athletic pedigree, honed through a decorated background in team sports such as soccer and basketball, ensures he remains one of the most physically gifted and conditioned fighters on the UFC roster. Coupled with the understanding that heavyweights often mature later in their careers compared to other divisions, and the fact that Gane has only dedicated seven years to the sport of MMA, the potential for continued significant improvement behind the scenes remains a tangible possibility, even amidst a scattering of high-profile losses.
For Ciryl Gane, UFC 321 represents a pivotal juncture. His title aspirations appear to hinge on this performance, marking what many observers consider a "now or never" moment for his championship ambitions. He seems poised to defy his detractors, aiming to finally actualize the potential that was so evident in his initial ascent, and to firmly establish his place at the apex of the heavyweight division. "For me, if I get this win, I’m going to be really grateful about my life and the experience," Gane concluded. "I think this is the way you have to do to be a real champion. I have a lot of experience and I learned a lot during my disappointment against Jon Jones and we have fixed it. We are really prepared for this fight in every department, mentally and physically. That’s why I am really happy for this fight."
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