Ali Akbar Rosady
Abu Dhabi, UAE – The upcoming UFC 321 main event in Abu Dhabi, featuring Tom Aspinall defending his undisputed heavyweight championship against former interim titleholder Ciryl Gane, has been underscored by an intense narrative surrounding pressure. Both combatants enter the Etihad Arena with significant stakes, yet the nature of their respective challenges diverges considerably.
Tom Aspinall (15-3), who has rapidly ascended to the pinnacle of the heavyweight division, faces the imperative of validating his status as the sport’s "next big thing." His path to the undisputed title was somewhat unconventional, following two-division champion Jon Jones’s decision to vacate the heavyweight belt rather than unify titles against Aspinall. Despite now holding the undisputed championship, questions persist regarding Aspinall’s untested ground game and chin, factors that have not been fully explored across his 18 professional bouts. The 32-year-old from Salford, England, has never fought beyond the second round in his professional career, a notable statistic as he prepares for a potential five-round championship distance this weekend. Furthermore, Aspinall enters the contest as a substantial 4-to-1 betting favorite, adding another layer of expectation to his inaugural title defense.
However, the pressure is not exclusive to Aspinall. Ciryl Gane (13-2) was quick to highlight this dynamic earlier in the week, stating, "I don’t think it’s about who has more pressure on their head and shoulders because I have the pressure, also. Every fight you have the pressure but, for the belt, there is a lot of pressure from the media and everywhere." Gane’s assessment underscores the high-stakes environment surrounding a championship bout, particularly for a fighter seeking to re-establish his dominance.
The broader context of the UFC heavyweight division also contributes to Gane’s unique position. Jon Jones’s brief retirement in June, though short-lived, accentuated the division’s perceived lack of depth, a situation previously exacerbated by Jones’s prolonged avoidance of Aspinall. This landscape, however, has inadvertently presented Gane with a third opportunity to claim the undisputed heavyweight championship. For the 35-year-old French native, this opportunity is significant, yet it arrives amid widespread debate regarding his deservingness, given his recent competitive history.
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Ciryl Gane’s journey in mixed martial arts has been both meteoric and, at times, perplexing. A decorated former Muay Thai fighter, Gane commenced his MMA training in 2018. Within a year and only three professional fights, he was signed to the UFC. His imposing 6-foot-5 frame, combined with exceptional athleticism and dynamic quickness for a heavyweight, quickly distinguished him. Gane compiled an impressive 6-0 record within 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. This rapid ascent led many to believe Gane was poised to dominate the division for years to come.
However, the subsequent period brought a series of challenges that exposed perceived vulnerabilities and led to considerable introspection for Gane. "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." This sentiment encapsulates a period where Gane’s rapid success may have masked underlying areas for development, which became apparent in his subsequent five fights over the next four years.
Gane’s first major setback occurred in a unification bout against then-undisputed champion Francis Ngannou in January 2022. Ngannou, fighting with a severely injured knee ligament sustained three weeks prior, managed to neutralize Gane’s striking and secure a decision victory, largely through grappling. While the fight was competitive, it marked Gane’s first professional loss and highlighted questions about his defensive grappling and ability to adapt to a wrestling-heavy attack.
Following this, Gane rebounded with a brutal knockout of Tai Tuivasa in September 2022. While a spectacular finish that delighted his home crowd in Paris, the fight also saw Gane visibly rocked and drawn into an unnecessary brawl, raising concerns about his fight IQ and willingness to engage in high-risk exchanges rather than maintain his technical advantage.
The nadir of Gane’s career arrived in March 2023 when he faced Jon Jones, who was making his highly anticipated heavyweight debut after a three-year layoff. Jones needed just over two minutes to take Gane down and submit him via guillotine choke, a defeat that occurred with minimal resistance from Gane. This performance ignited widespread criticism, particularly concerning his grappling defense, and significantly impacted his standing in the division. "My first loss against Ngannou, some people thought I won and it was very close, [so there was] not too much introspection," Gane recounted. "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 definitive loss to Jones, Gane returned to action in Paris, securing a second-round TKO victory over Serghei Spivac. The win was a strong bounce-back, showcasing his striking prowess and ability to perform under pressure in front of his home audience. However, the momentum from this victory was tempered by his most recent outing against Alexander Volkov in December, a rematch from 2021. Gane secured a split-decision win, a result that drew considerable disagreement from observers, including outspoken UFC CEO Dana White, who publicly stated his belief that Gane had lost the contest. Gane later attributed his performance to a broken foot sustained early in the fight. "I was really frustrated during this fight because I did a really good camp," Gane explained. "[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."
This sequence of performances has cultivated a narrative of inconsistency and raised questions about Gane’s championship ceiling. For many, UFC 321 represents a definitive crossroads. A third loss in three years at the highest level, particularly in an undisputed title fight, could severely diminish his prospects for future championship contention in a division that, despite its perceived lack of depth, has a clear hierarchy.
Gane, however, views the widespread negativity from media and fans as fuel for his resolve, particularly regarding the criticisms 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 stated emphatically. "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." This assertion indicates a concerted effort to address perceived weaknesses and a confidence in his overall grappling ability despite the high-profile submission loss.
Regarding his strategy against Aspinall, a common assumption is that Gane must avoid Aspinall’s early aggression and powerful hands, aiming to extend the fight into the later championship rounds where Aspinall remains untested. Gane, however, dismisses the notion that this is his sole path to victory. "I can do both," he asserted. "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 background in team sports such as soccer and basketball has contributed to his exceptional athleticism and conditioning, making him one of the most physically capable heavyweights on the UFC roster. Given that heavyweights often peak later in their careers compared to other divisions, and considering Gane has only been formally training in MMA for seven years, the potential for continued significant improvement behind the scenes remains plausible, even amidst a mixed record at the elite level.
While this title opportunity against Tom Aspinall may represent a "now or never" moment for Ciryl Gane’s championship aspirations, he appears poised to challenge the prevailing narrative and demonstrate his true potential on the sport’s grandest stage. "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." The bout at UFC 321 will undoubtedly be a definitive test for Gane, offering him the chance to reshape perceptions and solidify his legacy in the heavyweight division.
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