UFC 321: Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane Preview & Prediction
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Tom Aspinall Puts Heavyweight Gold on the Line Against Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 321 in Abhu Dhabi.
Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane facts
What time are Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 321? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Where can I get tickets for UFC 321? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 321
What TV channel is UFC 321 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC 321? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 321 main card
Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane (Heavyweight)
Virna Jandiroba vs Mackenzie Dern (Women’s Strawweight)
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Mario Bautista (Bantamweight)
Alexander Volkov vs Jailton Almeida (Heavyweight)
Aleksandar Rakic vs Azamat Murzakanov (Light Heavyweight)
UFC 321 prelims
Nasrat Haqparast vs Quillan Salkilld (Lightweight
Ikram Aliskerov vs Park Jun-yong (Middlweight)
L'udovit Klein vs Mateusz Rebecki (Lightweight)
Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs Matheus Camilo (Lightweight)
Valter Walker vs Louie Sutherland (Heavyweight)
Nathaniel Wood vs Jose Miguel Delgado (Featherweight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab vs Chris Barnett (Heavyweight)
Azat Maksum vs Mitch Raposo (Flyweight)
Jaqueline Amorim vs Mizuki Inoue (Women’s Strawweight)
Tom Aspinall: The new era of heavyweight
Tom Aspinall (15-3) has been nothing short of sensational since arriving in the UFC. The 32-year-old champion boasts a 100% finish rate, with 73% of his wins coming via KO/TKO and the remaining 27% by submission. His record inside the UFC stands at 8-1, with his only loss coming against Curtis Blaydes after suffering a freak knee injury just seconds into the fight.
Aspinall’s breakout moment came when he stepped in on short notice at Madison Square Garden in November 2023 to face Sergei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title. He stunned the world by stopping Pavlovich in the very first round with a thunderous right hand, announcing himself as the future of the division. The Englishman has also displayed elite-level grappling, highlighted by his slick submission win over Alexander Volkov in 2022.
Aspinall is widely regarded as the most athletic and technically complete heavyweight the UFC has ever seen. He blends crisp boxing with explosive movement and fluid grappling — a combination rarely found in fighters of his size. A lifelong martial artist trained by his father, Aspinall’s fight IQ and composure set him apart. Simply put, there’s no clear blueprint for beating him, and his dominance has led many to suggest that Jon Jones avoided risking his legacy against him.
Ciryl Gane: French technician looking to cause an upset
Ciryl Gane (13-2) enters this bout as the number one ranked heavyweight contender. The Frenchman has long been viewed as the division’s most polished striker — a composed, technical kickboxer who moves with the fluidity of a middleweight. Gane’s record inside the Octagon stands at 10-2, with his only defeats coming against Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou, two of the most formidable names in heavyweight history.
In his last outing, Gane won a controversial split-decision against Alexander Volkov in December 2024. While many felt Volkov did enough to win, the fight reinforced lingering questions about Gane’s grappling defence, which was previously exposed by Ngannou and Jones. Prior to the second Volkov fight, Gane earned a dominant TKO victory over Sergei Spivak, showcasing his elite striking and timing once again.
Gane’s style revolves around rhythm, precision, and systematic dismantling of opponents with jabs, teep kicks, and slick footwork. However, despite his technical brilliance, his lack of wrestling defence has been his Achilles heel and against a finisher like Aspinall, that could be a fatal flaw.
Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane prediction
This is a fascinating stylistic matchup between two of the most athletic heavyweights in MMA history. Gane is a fluid, intelligent striker with world-class movement, while Aspinall represents the complete modern mixed martial artist — fast, explosive, and deadly on the ground.
While Gane has the striking acumen to compete with anyone, his vulnerabilities in grappling exchanges remain a major concern. Aspinall’s speed, explosiveness, and transitional ability on the mat make him a nightmare for anyone who struggles in those areas. Add in Gane’s inactivity since December 2024 and questions over his motivation outside the cage, and the momentum appears firmly on the Englishman’s side.
Expect an explosive start, with Gane looking to establish range and Aspinall patiently waiting for an opening. Once the opportunity arises, Aspinall’s power and takedown threat should dictate the fight. If he gets it to the mat, it’s hard to see Gane surviving for long.
Prediction: Tom Aspinall to win via submission
