Ciryl Gane revealed he was game to square up with Tom Aspinall earlier this year. However, per his account, the Brit heavyweight king (IC) had other plans. Saturday’s UFC 310 Pay-per-view (PPV) card at T-Mobile Arena marks the 14th and final numbered UFC event of 2024. Gane returns during the main card portions on ESPN/ESPN2 +11:00 AM to regain his momentum.
UFC interim heavyweight Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) claimed Gane turned him down for a title scrap at UFC 304 in July. The Brit instead faced Curtis Blaydes, whom he stopped via first-round TKO to retain his belt. Now, Ciryl Gane included more details on the matter.
Unfortunately, we looking for this fight, uh, during this year – But it was not possible. Because Tom looking for in front of him, Tom looking [those] above him…Yeah, yeah, of course, for March – but it was not possible. He said I refused him in September, but the UFC didn’t propose me any contract with him. I’m looking for the best for me and every time is in front of me, and this is exactly what he’s doing now – just looking in front of him.
Ciryl Gane on the new ‘The Ariel Helwani Show’ (@ArielHelwani) live to Uncrowned and YouTube at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. UK time
Fernand Lopez confirmed that Gane (12-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) did indeed turn down Aspinall for the UFC 304 fight card. But only because he had already committed to filming a Netflix stint – something the UFC was well aware of. Per the Frenchman, on the other hand, there was no offer to fight in September, and Aspinall turned him down for a fight in March. However, he understands the sentiment of looking ahead.
👀Ciryl Gane claims he wanted to fight Tom Aspinall in march 2024 but Aspinall declined.
🎥 @arielhelwani ▫️ pic.twitter.com/ejw2zVhW6H
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) December 2, 2024
Gane believes a fight against Aspinall is inevitable down the line. But first, he must survive Alexander Volkov (38-10 MMA, 6-3 UFC) on the main card of UFC 310 on Saturday. Tom Aspinall has his sights set on a title unification fight with heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Gane had some thoughts about that as well.
Ciryl Gane sees Tom Aspinall as a bigger threat to Jon Jones than anyone else right now
Tom Aspinall snagged the provisional 265-pound strap exactly a year ago when Jon Jones was out on a pectoral tear. Ever since, the Briton has fought tooth nails in the ring and on social platforms for an acknowledgment of unification. However, ‘Bones’ wants a bigger legacy name Alex Pereira for it.
Ciryl Gane weighs in on Tom Aspinall – Jon Jones dynamic (Source: X/boxemag.com/express.co.uk)From his GOAT and weekly pound-for-pound listings standpoint, he is correct. Back in March 2023, Jones captured the vacant heavyweight belt when Ciryl Gane tapped from a guillotine choke just over two minutes into the fight. It was the only one where Gane (12-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was finished in his pro career. Yet, it didn’t do much for Jones, legacy-wise. He sees the same result against the now-red-hot Tom Aspinall.
Pereira is the current brand face, also a dual-division champ, and provides Jones with PPV compensations big enough not to fight anymore. So, it makes sense. But, Gane’s view is that Aspinall is a bigger threat to Jones than ‘Poatan.’
Every time we see for the fight against Stipe, everything was possible because Stipe is a really great fighter, really well-rounded, but he proved it another time…[Jon] He’s capable of changing…So even if you have a guy really good in his striking or the wrestling, he can manage this. Maybe I’m going to say Tom because he’s more well-rounded. When you have a guy like Alex Pereira, he’s so dangerous on the striking
Ciryl Gane further said on ‘The Ariel Helwani Show’ (@ArielHelwani)
His reasoning is the same as all other peers and pundits — Tom Aspinall is more well-rounded with BJJ skills even the greats laud. Per statleaders.ufc.com (UFC Record Book), the 31-year-old averages the shortest fight time in an anti-wrestle mode. He’s also a crisp boxer. However, Pereira lacks ground game in favor of phenomenal striking only. Something that Jones can easily get around.
