Heavyweight MMA is basically a soap opera with 260-pound men. Honestly, if you’ve been following the saga of Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane, you know exactly how frustrating the last few months have been. It was supposed to be the "passing of the torch" moment. Instead, we got a chaotic mess in Abu Dhabi that left the undisputed champion in a hospital bed and the number-one contender defending himself on social media.
Nobody wanted a "No Contest."
Yet, here we are in 2026, and the UFC heavyweight landscape is as murky as ever. While Aspinall waits for his eyes to heal, Gane is stuck in this weird limbo where he's the top challenger but carries the "foul" label. It's a disaster. Let's talk about what really happened and why this rematch is the only thing that makes sense for the sport.
The Night Everything Went Wrong at UFC 321
When Aspinall walked into the Etihad Arena back in October 2025, he wasn't just the interim guy anymore. Jon Jones had officially retired (for the first of three times, probably), making Aspinall the undisputed king. He was supposed to steamroll through Ciryl Gane to prove that the "new breed" of heavyweights was just better.
It started fast. Aspinall was landing. Gane was moving. Then, at 4:35 of the very first round, the world stopped.
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Gane’s fingers caught Aspinall in both eyes. It wasn't just a flick; it was a full-on double poke that left Aspinall unable to see. Referee Jason Herzog had to call it. The crowd booed—which was wild, considering Aspinall was the one with the scratched corneas—and the fight was ruled a No Contest.
Why the "Accidental" Label is Controversial
Aspinall hasn't been quiet about his frustration. He’s gone on record saying that while the referee called it accidental, an illegal move is still an illegal move. To him, losing months of his career to a foul feels like a robbery.
- The Medical Reality: Aspinall was diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome.
- The Surgery: He’s already had one surgery and had another scheduled for mid-January 2026.
- The Division: It's completely stalled.
Gane, for his part, keeps posting training clips showing his "fast feet" in France. But every time he posts, the comments are a graveyard of eye-poke jokes. It’s hard to build a brand when your most significant recent moment is a technical foul.
Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane: The Stylistic Nightmare
Before the poke, we were actually seeing a fascinating tactical battle. Aspinall is freakishly fast. He doesn't move like a heavyweight; he moves like a middleweight who happened to eat a few extra steaks. Gane is similar, but more "point-fighter" in his approach. He wants to touch you, move, and make you look silly.
The problem for Gane—and we saw glimpses of this—is that Aspinall doesn't just strike. He’s a high-level BJJ black belt.
If they ever get back in that cage, Gane has to figure out how to keep Aspinall off his hips. We saw Francis Ngannou (on one leg!) out-wrestle Gane. We saw Jon Jones treat him like a grappling dummy. Aspinall is arguably a more dangerous submission threat than both of them because he does it with so much speed.
The Numbers That Matter
If you look at the stats, Aspinall lands over 8 significant strikes per minute. That is insane for a heavyweight. Gane is more efficient but less high-volume. Basically, Aspinall is a storm, and Gane is a sniper. The storm usually wins if it can get close enough.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Rivalry
A lot of fans think Gane is "ducking" the rematch or that he did the eye poke on purpose to get out of a tough fight. That’s probably not true. Gane is a pro, and he was holding his own until the foul.
However, the narrative that Aspinall is "injury-prone" is also kind of a myth. Aside from the freak knee injury against Blaydes and this eye situation, he’s been one of the most active top-tier fighters in the company. He wants to fight. He’s practically begging the UFC to let him clear out the division.
What Happens Next?
The UFC is in a tight spot. They have Alexander Volkov sitting at #2, and he’s coming off a solid win over Jailton Almeida. They could give Volkov a shot, but let’s be real: nobody wants to see Volkov vs. Gane for the third time.
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We need Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane 2.
The path forward depends entirely on Aspinall’s vision. If his January surgery goes well, we might see him back in the Octagon by June or July. If not, the UFC might have to introduce another interim belt—which, at this point, would be the most UFC thing ever.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're betting on or following this division in 2026, keep an eye on these three things:
- Aspinall's Social Media: He’s been very transparent about his recovery. When he starts sparring with headgear that includes an eye shield, you’ll know the return is 8-12 weeks away.
- Gane's Next Move: If Gane takes a fight against someone like Sergei Pavlovich in the meantime, it means the Aspinall rematch is further off than we think.
- The "Bones" Factor: Jon Jones is still lurking. If he decides he wants a "superfight" with Alex Pereira, it might actually help Aspinall by keeping the title picture focused on the active heavyweights.
The heavyweight division needs a leader. Right now, that leader is sidelined because of a stray finger. Let's hope the sequel has a cleaner ending than the original.
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To stay updated, watch for the official UFC 328 or 330 card announcements, as those are the likely landing spots for the champion's return. Ensure you're tracking the medical suspensions list; Aspinall's clearance is the first domino that needs to fall.