Tom Aspinall disagrees with dad's prediction for Ciryl Gane fight
Tom Aspinall is set to defend his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night, and the Brit has responded to his dad's prediction
Tom Aspinall has dismissed his father's bold predictions ahead of his heavyweight title defence against Ciryl Gane.
The duo are set to clash in the main event at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday evening. Saturday evening's bout with the Frenchman represents the Brit's maiden defence of his undisputed championship belt since being elevated to full champion status.
Aspinall secured the interim crown back in 2023 following his knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich. The fighter then successfully retained the interim title against Curtis Blaydes during his most recent Octagon appearance in July 2024, reports All Out Fighting.
He was subsequently tipped to face Jon Jones this year, but the American ultimately chose to hang up his gloves. Now, the Wigan fighter's complete focus is on the number one heavyweight challenger. UFC 321 will mark Gane's third attempt at claiming the undisputed championship, having come up short in his two previous bids.
Prior to the bout, Aspinall's father Andy boldly forecast that the challenger wouldn't pose any problems for his son. "Ciryl Gane, he's a good points fighter for me. He's a kickbox, flicker and toucher. He finishes fights but he takes a lot of shots to finish people. Tom's a lot more clinical. I don't think his skill set will cause [Tom] issues at all," he said.
Despite Andy's bullish assertions, his son completely disagrees. "Well, I'm the one fighting, not my dad," he said in a recent interview with Fox Sports ahead of his showdown with Gane. "Ciryl Gane is a great striker. So I'm not thinking that way. I'm worried about everything."
READ MORE: Legendary kickboxer dies aged 55 as tributes paid to iconic trainerREAD MORE: Tom Aspinall's dad reveals truth behind UFC star's only defeatLike Aspinall, Gane is renowned for his lightning-quick speed and nimble footwork. The Brit acknowledges he must remain alert at every moment if he wants to emerge victorious. "Cyril Gane's distance management is fantastic," said Aspinall. "So I gotta be in the right position all the time so I can hit him and he can't hit me. That's the aim of the game. That's fighting."
Aspinall hasn't competed since his opening round knockout triumph over Blaydes in Manchester. However, he has been grafting relentlessly ever since and has regularly been spotted in the gym, enhancing his skills ahead of his clash with the former interim heavyweight champion.
With merely days remaining until fight night, the Brit maintains he is in peak physical condition as he aims to successfully defend his golden belt and return the title to British shores. "Everyone is going to say they're in the best shape of their life a few days before a fight," he said. "But I think so [I am]. I think the older I get, the fitter I get. I definitely put more into it in terms of the old physical condition."
When is Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane?
Aspinall's bout with Gane is scheduled to occur on October 25 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The duo's encounter will top the UFC 321 pay-per-view card. Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida will also feature at the event - apparently competing for the top heavyweight contender position. A thrilling light-heavyweight clash between Aleksandar Rakic and Azamat Murzakanov has been confirmed, while Mitch Raposo is set to square off against Azat Maksum.
The co-main event will see Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern duke it out for the vacant women's strawweight title. TNT Sports subscribers can catch the preliminary card on TNT Sports 4 and TNT Sports Box Office from 5pm in the UK and Ireland. The main card is due to kick off at 7pm UK time. In the headline bout, Gane is expected to make his entrance to the cage first at approximately 9:30pm UK time, with Aspinall hot on his heels. However, fight timings are subject to change depending on the duration of the undercard. Fans in the UK and Ireland can exclusively watch the main card live on TNT Sports Box Office for a fee of £19.99.
