Tom Aspinall is set to make his first defence of the undisputed heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, marking one of the most anticipated fights in recent UFC history. The Manchester fighter was promoted from interim to undisputed champion in June after Jon Jones retired, and now faces a formidable French challenger in Gane, a former interim champion himself.
Fighters and Pundits Back Aspinall
Ahead of the bout, BBC Sport surveyed fighters and analysts for their predictions. The consensus heavily favours Aspinall, with UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern highlighting his grappling and power, calling him “a dangerous fighter.” Heavyweight Chris Barnett echoed this, saying, “Where are the holes? Aspinall just trumps Gane in experience and skill.” Lightweight Mason Jones predicted a quick finish, claiming, “Three minutes. Tom Aspinall will finish him in three minutes.” Alfie Davis added that Gane’s grappling shortcomings could make the fight “easy work” for Aspinall.
Some Experts See Gane as a Threat
Not everyone is convinced it will be straightforward. UFC middleweight Caio Borralho and light-heavyweight Alex Pereira pointed to Gane’s experience and elusiveness, suggesting the fight could extend beyond the early rounds. Laura Sanko also noted Gane’s footwork as a potential challenge, predicting a more tactical contest if Aspinall struggles to close the distance.
UFC 321 Fight Card in Full
The main event is scheduled between 21:00 and 21:30 BST, with live text commentary from 20:00 BST on the BBC Sport website and app. The card also features Virna Jandiroba vs Mackenzie Dern for the vacant strawweight title, Alexander Volkov vs Jailton Almeida in heavyweight, and Aleksandar Rakic vs Azamat Murzakanov in light-heavyweight, alongside a stacked preliminary lineup.
Fans will be glued to the Etihad Arena as Aspinall looks to defend his crown and Gane aims to claim the undisputed heavyweight title for the first time.
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