Ciryl Gane has a title again after a huge victory over Alex Pereira at UFC White House, but he knows all roads lead to Tom Aspinall.
“Bon Gamin” became interim heavyweight champion a second time Sunday, needing less than a round and a half to score a knockout of the fearsome Pereira and prevent him from becoming the UFC’s first three-division titleholder. Afterwards, Gane used his post-fight interview time to call for a rematch with Aspinall of their ill-fated UFC 321 encounter.
At that October 2025
show, Aspinall defended his undisputed heavyweight title against Gane, but the fight was over inside of a round after a Gane eye poke left Aspinall unable to continue. The bout was ruled a no-contest and Aspinall has not fought since as he deals with eye injuries, prompting the creation of an interim belt.
Gane was later asked if he had anything to say to Aspinall after beating Pereira.
“No direct message” Gane said via a French translator at the UFC White House post-fight press conference. “We have unfinished business.”
Prior to his fight with Aspinall coming to an unceremonious end, Gane was doing well in the first round, stifling Aspinall’s striking and his attempts to take him down. Gane’s strength and agility were on full display against Pereira, with “Poatan” never finding a rhythm or having Gane in any significant danger.
Gane was asked to compare his two most recent opponents.
“What’s the main difference between Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall?” Gane said. “Alex Pereira’s a guy who is very strong and a guy that can take your lights out at any moment and Tom Aspinall’s a guy that’s more well-versed and a more complete fighter overall, but those are the main differences.”
The UFC is scheduled to return to Paris on Sept. 5 and Gane made it clear he’s fully prepared to be available for that card and would like Aspinall to join him in his home country.
“As soon as possible, like I like to say, in Paris for example is a good idea, but I know let the staff of the UFC work on it,” Gane said.
UFC CEO Dana White was on the same page as Gane when asked for a possible timetable for the Aspinall rematch.
“I’m not thinking even thinking about that right now,” White said. “Ciryl Gane, listen, [it was hard for Pereira] to move up three weight classes in the UFC, and Ciryl looked great tonight. A guy we always say he’s a heavyweight that moves like a middleweight and he definitely looked like one tonight. We’ll get back, I’m going to let my people have some time off this week and then we’ll get back at it and we’ll figure out what’s next.”
