Tom Aspinall’s first UFC title defence is most likely to be against Ciryl Gane.
UFC fans believe the newly crowned British heavyweight champion will put his belt on the line against Gane after top contender Jailton Almeida announced his next fight.
Almeida was one of the front-runners to be in contention for a title shot against Aspinall, having called out the Brit in June for a fight.
But he took to X on Thursday to reveal he had signed a contract to fight fellow heavyweight star Alexander Volkov.
“Just signed the contract! UFC 321, Abu Dhabi,” he wrote.
“October 25, title eliminator for the UFC heavyweight championship of the world, Jailton Almeida vs Alexander Volkov.”
Volkov is the No. 2-ranked UFC heavyweight, while Almeida is three spots below in fifth.
Almeida’s suggestion that the pair will meet at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi has left the MMA fraternity believing only one thing will come next.
One fan responded to Almeida’s post and said: “So this just about confirms Gane will be fighting for the title?”
While another wrote: “So Gane vs Aspinall is locked in?”
A third added: “So it’s Gane vs. Aspinall for the belt soon?”
Gane is the highest-ranked UFC heavyweight whom Aspinall has not knocked out, but several fans don’t believe he has earned a shot at the title based on previous performances.
The 35-year-old from France lost a UFC heavyweight title bout to Jon Jones after only two minutes in March 2023, in his last defeat.
He bounced back by stopping Serghei Spivac six months later, and then secured a split-decision victory over Volkov in a No. 1 contender bout at UFC 310.
However, 99 per cent of those who watched Gane vs Volkov couldn’t believe the Frenchman was awarded the decision, including UFC CEO and President Dana White.
UFC Heavyweight Rankings
A New Champ
- Ciryl Gane
- Alexander Volkov
- Sergei Pavlovich
- Curtis Blaydes
- Jailton Almeida
- Waldo Cortes Acosta
- Marcin Tybura
- Sergehi Spivac
- Derrick Lewis
- Tai Tuivasa
- Shamil Gaziev
- Mick Parkin
- Martin Buday
- Tallison Teixeira
- Rizvan Kuniev
Nevertheless, it seems ‘Bon Gamin’ will have the opportunity to prove his haters wrong by being the first man to challenge Aspinall for his title.
Aspinall was crowned the new heavyweight champion when Jones announced his retirement from the sport last month.
Although ‘Bones’ has since reversed his decision to fight next year at the UFC White House card, which could also feature Conor McGregor‘s return, Aspinall remains champion.
While a fight with Gane has not been confirmed, fans expect White to announce something soon.
One wildcard that could throw a spanner in the works is former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira.
Pereira has teased fans with a move up to heavyweight by posting his staggering current weight on social media.
He revealed on Instagram this week that he weighed 243 lbs amid speculation that he was moving up a weight division to attempt to become the UFC’s first champion in three weight classes.
Pereira stopped Israel Adesanya in 2022 to become the UFC middleweight champion before moving up in weight and winning the strap at light heavyweight.
He was the UFC’s Fighter of the Year in 2024, alongside Ilia Topuria, having scored three consecutive title bout knockouts, including one in the main event of UFC 300.
However, with all that said, Pereira is still expected to seek a rematch with Magomed Ankalaev, who dethroned the Brazilian of his light heavyweight title at UFC 313 in March.
‘Poatan’ could then chase a heavyweight title bout with Aspinall in what would be an epic showdown between the two UFC giants.