MMA news: Aspinall warns Gane not to engage ahead of heavyweight UFC clash in Abu Dhabi

Tom Aspinall has warned Ciryl Gane not to engage ahead of a huge fight for the UFC heavyweight belt in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Aspinall is set to make his second title defence in the Octagon after beating Curtis Blaydes via TKO in the first round of their rematch in London last year.

The heavyweight champion had previously called out former belt holder Jon Jones, but Jones’s continued refusal meant the fight never happened.

Gane, meanwhile, clinched a controversial split decision win over Alexander Volkov in his last bout to place himself next in line for a shot at glory.

He hasn’t fought for the title since losing to Jones in dramatic fashion back in 2023.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Will Thomas has all you need to know.

Aspinall has ‘improved a lot’

Speaking to Daniel Cormier on the latter’s YouTube channel, the Bolton fighter revealed recent improvements to his training and skills.

“I have got a lot better in my time off,” Aspinall said.

“I was in the gym just improving, getting better. It was nice to put my body through that [training camp] all the time, but I’ve improved a lot I think. 

“Ciryl Gane is really good, and I prepared for him accordingly. I think I got him at his best – he’s got the experience, he knows what it’s like under pressure.

“If he’s more engaging, that evens the odds up on my part, so if I was Gane, I wouldn’t force the engagement.”

Aspinall added that Gane will fall if he hits him square in the face, saying: “It’s not that I believe in my power. I have proof, statistically – if I hit somebody, they’re going to fall over like the last three fights I have been in.”

Notably, Aspinall has never been past two rounds in his UFC career, with his only loss coming after sustaining an injury in an attempted leg kick during his first fight against Blaydes.

The heavyweight clash between Aspinall and Gane is scheduled for 21:00 GMT and headlines UFC 321 at the Etihad Arena – UFC’s 11th pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi.

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