London, May 4, 2025, 8:44 PM +07 – Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall has fiercely shut down rumors of a potential fight with Ciryl Gane, labeling the speculation as “bullsh*t” and reaffirming his focus on a title unification bout with Jon Jones. Aspinall’s fiery rejection comes amid growing chatter that the UFC might force him to defend his interim belt against Gane, a move that has sparked outrage among fans and analysts alike.
Aspinall Slams the Rumors
In a video posted to his YouTube channel earlier today, Aspinall didn’t mince words, directly addressing the swirling rumors about a matchup with Gane. “All this talk about me fighting Ciryl Gane—it’s bullsh*t rumors! No fight with Gané! I’m the interim champ, I’ve done my part, and I’m waiting for Jon Jones to unify the belts. That’s the fight the fans want, that’s the fight I want, and that’s what should happen,” Aspinall declared, visibly frustrated. His comments echo sentiments he’s expressed since winning the interim title in November 2023, consistently calling for a showdown with Jones, who last defended his undisputed belt against Stipe Miocic in November 2024.
The rumors stem from recent speculation by UFC insiders like Din Thomas and Chael Sonnen, who suggested the UFC might book Aspinall vs. Gane for UFC 317 on June 28 as a second interim title defense. Thomas claimed on The Bohnfire podcast on April 30 that the UFC had “convinced” Aspinall to face Gane while Jones gathers more intel, a notion Aspinall has now emphatically rejected. Aspinall’s history with Gane adds fuel to the fire—he’s previously accused Gane of ducking him multiple times, including turning down a title fight at UFC 304 in July 2024 to film a movie, as Aspinall revealed on his YouTube channel last May.
A Frustrated Champion
Aspinall, now the longest-reigning interim champion in UFC history at 541 days as of May 4, has grown increasingly vocal about the delays in unifying the heavyweight titles. His interim reign began with a 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295, followed by a successful defense against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. Despite his dominance, the UFC’s apparent reluctance to book the Jones fight has left Aspinall and his father, Andy, visibly frustrated. Andy recently expressed discontent with the UFC’s handling of the situation, a sentiment shared by fans on social media who argue Aspinall deserves the undisputed shot.
The idea of another interim defense—especially against Gane, who’s coming off a controversial decision win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310—has been met with backlash. Fans have pointed out the inconsistency, noting that Gane has lost both of his previous title shots against Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou, while Aspinall has finished every UFC opponent except for a fluke injury loss to Blaydes in 2022. The MMA community has also criticized the UFC for potentially stalling the division to accommodate Jones, who some accuse of ducking Aspinall to protect his legacy.
What’s Next for Aspinall?
Aspinall’s rejection of the Gane fight puts the ball back in the UFC’s court. With UFC 317 fast approaching, the promotion must decide whether to push forward with Jones vs. Aspinall—a fight Dana White has called “the biggest heavyweight fight in the history of the sport”—or risk further fan backlash by booking another interim defense. Aspinall’s focus remains clear: unify the belts or nothing. As the saga unfolds, the heavyweight division remains in limbo, with Aspinall’s patience wearing thin and the MMA world watching closely for the UFC’s next move.
