Ali Akbar Rosady
The upcoming UFC 321 main event in Abu Dhabi features a highly anticipated heavyweight championship bout between undisputed titleholder Tom Aspinall and former interim champion Ciryl Gane. As Aspinall prepares for the first defense of his unified championship, much of the prefight discussion has centered on the concept of pressure, a sentiment acknowledged by both competitors.
Tom Aspinall, with a professional record of 15-3, ascends to this title defense following a period of anticipation surrounding his career trajectory. The 32-year-old British fighter had been positioned as a significant contender, with widespread expectations of a unification bout against former two-division champion Jon Jones. However, Jones’ decision to vacate the heavyweight title and avoid a matchup with Aspinall altered the landscape, leaving Aspinall to inherit the undisputed throne without the star-making opportunity of defeating Jones directly. Consequently, Aspinall now carries the expectation of validating his status as the division’s next dominant force. Despite his rapid ascent and powerful striking, questions persist regarding the full extent of his ground game and the durability of his chin, neither of which has been extensively tested over prolonged periods in his career.
Adding to Aspinall’s burden is his status as a considerable 4-to-1 betting favorite entering the Etihad Arena. This favored position is notable given that Aspinall has concluded all 18 of his professional fights within the first two rounds, a statistic that underscores his explosive finishing ability but also means he has never been extended into the championship rounds. This weekend’s five-round contest against Gane will mark the first occasion in his professional career where Aspinall is scheduled for, and potentially forced to navigate, the full championship distance.
While Aspinall faces distinct challenges, Ciryl Gane (13-2) has been quick to highlight that the pressure is not unilaterally applied. "I don’t think it’s about who has more pressure on their head and shoulders because I have the pressure, also," Gane stated earlier this week. He further elaborated, "Every fight you have the pressure but, for the belt, there is a lot of pressure from the media and everywhere." Gane, a 35-year-old native of France, finds himself in a position that is both advantageous and precarious. The perceived lack of depth within the UFC heavyweight division, exacerbated by Jon Jones’ brief departure and subsequent return, has created an opening for Gane to secure a third shot at the undisputed heavyweight championship. This opportunity, however, is met with considerable skepticism from observers regarding his deservingness, particularly in light of his recent performances.
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Gane’s journey in mixed martial arts has been characterized by a meteoric rise followed by a period of introspection and inconsistency. A former professional Muay Thai fighter, Gane commenced his MMA training only in 2018. Within a year and after just three professional bouts, he was signed by the UFC. His 6-foot-5 frame, combined with exceptional agility and striking technique, quickly set him apart. 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 via a third-round technical knockout. This rapid success led many to believe Gane was poised to dominate the division for years to come.
However, subsequent bouts exposed perceived vulnerabilities in his game and a relative lack of experience at the highest level. Gane reflected on this period, stating, "I started [MMA] really late and everything looked like easy for me. When you are winning, you don’t have any questions about yourself." The five fights that followed his interim title win provided a series of tests that have prompted questions about his long-term potential.
His first undisputed title opportunity came against Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 in January 2022. In a closely contested unification bout, Gane suffered his first professional loss via unanimous decision. The narrative surrounding this fight was complicated by the revelation that Ngannou had fought with a severely injured knee, sustaining ligament damage three weeks prior to the contest. While some pundits and fans argued that Gane’s performance warranted a victory, his inability to decisively defeat an injured champion marked a turning point. "My first loss against Ngannou, some people thought I won and it was very close, [so there was] not too much introspection," Gane acknowledged.
Gane rebounded eight months later with a brutal knockout victory over Tai Tuivasa in front of his home crowd in Paris at UFC Fight Night 209. While a decisive finish, the fight saw Gane visibly rocked and drawn into an unnecessary brawl with the heavy-handed Australian, raising concerns about his defensive discipline and fight IQ when under duress.
The most significant setback of Gane’s career occurred in March 2023 at UFC 285, when he faced Jon Jones, who was making his long-awaited heavyweight debut after a three-year hiatus. Jones, widely considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, needed just over two minutes to take Gane down and submit him with a guillotine choke. The defeat was particularly stark due to Gane’s apparent lack of resistance once the fight hit the ground, drawing widespread criticism regarding his grappling proficiency. This loss prompted a deep period of reflection for Gane. "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," he recounted.
Six months after the Jones defeat, Gane returned to action in Paris, delivering a dominant performance against Serghei Spivac, finishing him in less than two rounds via TKO. This victory showcased Gane’s refined striking and movement, earning praise for his rebound. However, the momentum from this win was short-lived. In his most recent outing, a rematch against Alexander Volkov in December, Gane secured a split-decision victory that was widely disputed. UFC CEO Dana White was among many who publicly expressed disagreement with the judges’ verdict, suggesting Gane had lost the contest. Gane later revealed the challenging circumstances of that fight: "I was really frustrated during this fight because I did a really good camp. [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."
As Gane approaches this third undisputed title opportunity, the stakes are undeniably high. A third loss at the championship level in three years would likely diminish his chances of another title shot in the foreseeable future, especially given the ongoing questions surrounding his overall game. However, Gane maintains that the consistent scrutiny and negative assessments from the media have served as motivation, particularly in addressing perceived weaknesses in his grappling. "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. "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 utilize his distance management and cardio to prolong the fight into the later rounds, thereby neutralizing Aspinall’s early explosiveness. Gane, however, dismisses this singular interpretation of his approach. "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 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. Considering that heavyweight fighters often peak later in their careers, and Gane’s relatively short tenure of seven years in MMA, there remains a plausible argument for continued significant improvement in his skill set behind the scenes, despite recent high-profile losses.
This championship bout represents a critical juncture for Ciryl Gane. It is perceived by many as a "now or never" moment for his aspirations of capturing undisputed UFC gold. Gane, however, appears determined to defy his detractors and demonstrate his full 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 outcome of UFC 321 will undoubtedly shape the narrative of the heavyweight division and the legacy of both Gane and Aspinall.
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