Tom Aspinall has revealed he is currently in the middle of a 12-week training camp in preparation for his rematch with Ciryl Gane. Aspinall stated he has returned to full training while negotiations with the UFC for the bout are ongoing.
UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has disclosed that he is currently midway through a 12-week training camp aimed at a rematch against Ciryl Gane, with negotiations between his team and the UFC still in progress.
Aspinall, 33, holds the UFC heavyweight title and carries a professional record of 15-3-0. The Manchester-born fighter, who trains out of Team Kaobon, stands six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach and ranks sixth on the pound-for-pound list. His offensive output is among the most dangerous in the division, averaging 7.63 significant strikes landed per minute at a striking accuracy of 67 percent, while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
His prospective opponent, Ciryl Gane, enters as the division's second-ranked contender with a record of 14-2-0. The Frenchman, nicknamed Bon Gamin, trains out of MMA Factory and is 36 years old. Standing six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach — the longest of the two — Gane is a technically precise striker who averages 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Aspinall is already deep in camp, suggesting the fight is logistically close even if the contract is unsigned.
- A win for Gane, the No. 2 ranked heavyweight, would make him a two-time title challenger and a serious divisional landmark.
- The stylistic matchup pits Aspinall's explosive volume and grappling threat against Gane's rangier, technical striking and longer reach advantage of three inches.
- The outcome would have significant pound-for-pound implications given Aspinall's current No. 6 P4P ranking.
