Tom Aspinall spent the last six months complaining about the “disgusting” fingernails of heavyweight rival Ciryl Gane, following a debilitating (some might say intentional) eye poke that rendered the heavyweight champion unable to continue during their UFC 321 headliner last fall in Abu Dhabi.
Exaggerate much?
“His communication strategy was really bad,” Gane told RMC Sports Combat. “Today, he’s signed with an agency that I hope helps him with his communication because it was catastrophic. Sometimes
it’s better not to say anything. These things happen. You don’t need to overdo it, exaggerate it. The guy was like, ‘Ahh, ahh,’ acting like he can’t drive anymore.”
Aspinall blamed Gane’s eye poke for double vision, vertigo, and a temporary ban on driving.
“He said so many things and spent so much time trying to accuse me of who knows what,” Gane continued. “It just didn’t make sense anymore at a certain point. Even his own fans must have been like, ‘Wow, man, that’s enough. Relax. These things happen. We’ve got your back, but you should calm down a bit.’ But yeah, that was his communication. I wasn’t affected at all. Social media is secondary.”
Turns out the 265-pound strap will also be secondary in Gane’s return.
“Bon Gamin” battles former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight title in the UFC White House co-main event next month in Washington, DC. The winner is expected to unify the belts against the returning Aspinall at some point later this year.
Aspinall returned to “light training” back in March.
