Tom Aspinall's manager Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Aspinall is cleared and ready to return to MMA competition. Hearn told the UFC that Aspinall is ready, and discussions about a fight date and financial terms are expected to take place soon. A bout with Ciryl Gane has been identified as the target matchup.
Tom Aspinall is cleared and ready to compete again, with his manager Eddie Hearn confirming the UFC heavyweight champion's availability and signaling that negotiations over a fight date and financial terms are set to begin. A matchup against Ciryl Gane has emerged as the target bout.
Aspinall, 33, holds a 15-3 record and sits at number six in the pound-for-pound rankings while reigning as heavyweight champion. The England native trains out of Team Kaobon and brings an imposing physical frame at six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach. His offensive output is among the most prolific in the division, averaging 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a 67 percent accuracy rate, and he adds a consistent wrestling threat at 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Standing across from him would be Ciryl Gane, known as Bon Gamin, the number-two ranked heavyweight contender in the UFC. The 36-year-old Frenchman carries a 14-2 record and represents MMA Factory. At six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach — the longest of the two men — Gane has built his reputation on technical striking, averaging 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Aspinall's return puts the long-dormant heavyweight title picture back in motion
- Gane is the division's second-ranked contender, making this a legitimate title fight at the top of the ladder
- The stylistic contrast is sharp: Aspinall's high-volume, high-accuracy output and active grappling against Gane's longer reach and technical stand-up game
- Financial and scheduling discussions are still ahead, meaning no date is confirmed yet
