Heading into UFC 321, Ciryl Gane isn’t generating overwhelming support from the oddsmakers, yet he might have a high-profile ally backing him—metaphorically speaking.
This Saturday, Gane seizes his third opportunity to claim the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship as he faces Tom Aspinall in a main event in Abu Dhabi. This chance arose following Jon Jones’ retirement announcement in June, which eliminated the prospect of a unification bout with Aspinall, the interim champion.
Aspinall had persistently called out Jones for over a year, and despite expressing willingness to move on, fan anticipation for their matchup remained strong. If Jones is watching on Saturday, Gane believes he might find himself with the former dual-division champion’s support.
“Perhaps, because I think Tom has shown him some disrespect,” Gane remarked during an interview with Full Send MMA. “He retired, and now it’s our turn—let’s see what happens this Saturday.”
Jones had quickly reversed his retirement after President Donald Trump announced a planned UFC event at the White House for July 4th, 2026 (though the date may now be pushed to June). Jones indicated his desire to fight at this event, which has led to speculation about potential bouts, including one with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Amidst the buzz surrounding Saturday’s event, with Gane currently viewed as a 3-to-1 underdog, many wonder if this noise impacts his mindset. Gane, however, insists it won’t.
“For those who really know me, I focus solely on myself, not on outside opinions,” Gane stated. “To truly assess the situation, one must consider both our careers and how we’ve performed; I recognize that this will be a challenging fight.”
