Ciryl Gane has been here before, bright lights, championship pressure, and the chance to stake his claim as the best heavyweight on the planet, but ahead of UFC 321, the former interim champion says this one feels different.
In Tom Aspinall, Gane sees not just a title fight, but what he calls the challenge of his career.
“This is a big challenge, and everybody know that already,” Gane told reporters including Cageside Press at his media day scrum.
“We don’t need the noise around this fight. Everybody know we are a new breed. People waiting for this fight (for) a long time. You can expect a big fight.”
Gane has faced knockout artists, grappling specialists, and veteran champions, but he sees something unique in Aspinall. Unlike past opponents, Gane believes Aspinall represents the new evolution of the heavyweight division: athletic, technical, and unpredictable everywhere.
“Everybody have (their) strength, everybody have (their) weakness. The particularity of Tom Aspinall is he’s well-rounded,” he said.
“He’s a huge fighter, he’s a new breed like me. Technical and fast. So he’s different.”
Aspinall may not be the only looming challenge for Gane in the heavyweight picture. Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has publicly expressed interest in fighting Jon Jones at the UFC’s planned White House card in 2026, but all signs indicate he’ll be watching Saturday’s main event closely. Should Pereira move up, he could very well be next in line for the winner.
“This is a beautiful idea. He have a beautiful story and he build up (in size). He can do it. He stay really dangerous. He can do it,” he said.
“I remember exactly the same situation with Jon Jones. (We were) talking about him (jumping) into the heavyweight division. We’re also excited for Alex Pereira.”
“Yes of course. This is a fight. Everything is possible in a fight, so yeah, 100%,” he said.
“Yes, yes exactly of course (I’d be interested in fighting Pereira).”
