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Tom Aspinall reacts to Ciryl Gane turning down heavyweight title fight at UFC 303 in Manchester

Tom Aspinall is planning to defend his interim heavyweight title on July 27 when the UFC returns to Manchester….

Tom Aspinall is planning to defend his interim heavyweight title on July 27 when the UFC returns to Manchester. We don’t yet know who it will be against, but it looks like we can already rule out Ciryl Gane.

On Tuesday, rumors began circulating that ‘Bon Gamin’ had rejected an offer to challenge Aspinall at UFC 304 because he would be busy shooting a movie this summer. Aspinall seemingly confirmed the rumor by asking his followers if anyone knew which film the ex-title challenger was set to appear in.

“Does anyone know which film Ciryl is filming?” Aspinall questioned on X.

A report from TalkSport revealed that a source “with knowledge of the situation” confirmed Gane turned down the opportunity to fight Aspinall this summer due to filming commitments.

It’s not the first time Ciryl Gane has been accused of ducking a fight with Tom Aspinall

It’s not the first time that Gane has been accused of turning down a fight with the UK-based heavyweight.

“He’s dismissed me on multiple occasions, and I’m not the first guy he’s dismissed,” Aspinall said about Gane during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour. I’m not the first guy that he’s ducked. It’s out there for people to see. The reason that I got the [Sergei] Pavlovich fight is because Ciryl didn’t want it. He ducked Pavlovich. He then ducked Curtis Blaydes. Curtis Blaydes has been on record saying that.

“I asked for him years ago. He didn’t want it then. Then I asked for him in Paris. They flew me over, we tried to make that fight. He didn’t want it then, and we’ll see what the UFC wants to do.”

Getting wind of Aspinall’s comments, Gane was quick to dispute the interim champ’s statement.

“Tom Aspinall, I never, ever say no to any challenge or any opponent,” Gane responded on social media. “Blaydes was never an option. They said Pavlovich, I said yes. Don’t worry, I’ll see you in September, stop tripping.”

The UFC is expected to return to Gane’s native France on September 28 for an event in Paris. Presumably, ‘Bon Gamin’ will be heavily featured on the card, but with the festivities going down a mere eight weeks after UFC 304, it’s unlikely that Tom Aspinall will be ready to go by then.

Alex Pereira weighs up Manchester clash with Tom Aspinall at UFC 304: ‘I’m there to fight’

Sidelined in the aftermath of his devastating first round at UFC 300 earlier this month, light heavyweight champion, Alex…

Sidelined in the aftermath of his devastating first round at UFC 300 earlier this month, light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira insists his fighting future is not directly in his hands off the back of the event, however, has not shied away from a potential July comeback to fight Tom Aspinall for interim heavyweight gold at UFC 304.

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion and the light heavyweight division’s current pacesetter, headlined UFC 300 last weekend against former champion, Jamahal Hill, comfortably dispatching the Illinois native with a blistering first round KO win.

Alex Pereira tipped for success at heavyweight everybody is in trouble against him UFC — Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports

And in the immediate aftermath of his victory, Sao Paulo favorite, Pereira echoed calls for a potential UFC 301 comeback in just less than three weeks time in his native Brazil – in a potential heavyweight divisional debut.

Alex Pereira rejects UFC 308 clash with Magomed Ankalaev in Abu Dhabi I want to fight sooner — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

However, revealing a second fractured toe suffered in the first round of his bout with Hill – Pereira, who had fractured another toe even prior to his UFC 300 appearance, was ultimately ruled from a Rio de Janeiro return.

Alex Pereira weighs up UFC 304 outing

Rejecting an offer to meet with Russian contender, Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 308 in October, citing his preference for a quickfire return after emerging unscathed from his fight with Hill, Pereira explored the option of a July fight with British heavyweight star, Aspinall.

Alex Pereira would rather fight sooner than October, after receiving a call out from surging contender, Magomed Ankalaev for #UFC308.https://t.co/oJ3rG4ZWjy

— LowKickMMA.com (@LowKick_MMA) April 23, 2024

“I have to see what’s best for me, but I’m not alone,” Alex Pereira told MMA Fighting regarding a potential fight with Tom Aspinall in June. “I have my managers with me. I’m here, I’m like a gamecock – you put another rooster in front of me and I’m there to fight, and we will fight, you know?”

gettyimages 2148569356 612x612 1 1 — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

“But we have to see what’s best for me, my career, and my team,” Alex Pereira explained. “I’m open to fighting whoever, but I’m not the one who decides.”

Himself confirming the promotion’s return to the United Kingdom at the end of July for a Manchester pay-per-view event, Atherton native, Aspinall also revealed he would be fighting at UFC 304 in a homecoming, and was just waiting for his opponent to ink terms on a clash.

Who wins in a future title clash: Tom Aspinall or Alex Pereira?

Tom Aspinall confirms return on UFC 304 card in Manchester, waiting on fight agreement: ‘I’ll be announcing it soon’

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall confirms he will fight on next UK PPV card later this Summer. Despite…

UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall confirms he will fight on next UK PPV card later this Summer.

Despite Jon Jones reigning as the UFC’s current undisputed heavyweight title holder, a strong argument could be made that is Aspinall who is the best big man in the world. The Brit would capture the interim title in November of last year, stopping the then No.1 ranked Sergei Pavlovich with a vicious flurry of punches in just over a minute.

gettyimages 2148569356 612x612 1 — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

With the division currently being held up with the cancellation of Jon Jones – Stipe Miocic and the subsequent lack of rebooking, Tom Aspinall would have to wait a lengthy amount of time for his shot at undisputed. Unless of course he were to take a fight in the meantime and defend his interim title.

Tom Aspinall confirms UFC 304 comeback fight

Since his win over Pavlovich, Aspinall has been adamant that he wants to keep busy and in his latest post to social media announced he had got his wish. Aspinall would also confirm that the fight will take place on home soil in what will be the UFC’s return to the UK.

dm 231111 MMA One Play Tom Aspinall emotional

“I had a meeting with the UFC, it has now been confirmed that I am fighting on UFC Manchester, so I’m back home preparing for that now, started the early stages of training camp,” Tom Aspinall said.

“Just waiting for my opponent to accept so stay tuned and I’ll be announcing it soon.”

A likely candidate for Aspinall’s opponent would be former foe Curtis Blaydes. The two squared off in July 2022 but unfortunately Aspinall would suffer a torn ACL and the fight would come to a close after just 15 seconds.

A perennial contender, Blaydes most recently scored an impressive victory over surging grappler, Jailton Almeida, last month.

Who would win in a rematch, Tom Aspinall or Curtis Blaydes?

Manager explains why Alex Pereira won’t make fighting return at UFC 301: ‘He has to go and let the dust settle’

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira won’t be fighting in Brazil at UFC 301 after all. Pereira scored a…

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira won’t be fighting in Brazil at UFC 301 after all.

Pereira scored a first-round knockout win over Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC 300. With Pereira not taking much damage, he called to fight in a few weeks at UFC 301. However, Pereira’s manager, Jorge Guimarães spoke on MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca podcast and explained why he won’t be fighting on the card.

“That won’t happen, no way, especially now that he has another broken toe,” Guimarães said of Pereira fighting on May 4 in Rio de Janeiro. “He has to go to the shipyard and let the dust settle and celebrate the victory. Maybe [go to Brazil] to watch the event, but no fights for him.”

gettyimages 2148568721 612x612 1 — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Alex Pereira not fighting at UFC 301 is a bit disappointing for fans, but due to the broken toe, he will be taking time off and making sure he’s healthy for his next title defense.

Manager Doesn’t Think Alex Pereira – Tom Aspinall fight is next

Since Alex Pereira became the light heavyweight champion, he has hinted at a future move to heavyweight.

Tom Aspinall has shown some interest in facing Alex Pereira in the future, but the Brazilian’s manager doesn’t think the fight makes sense for Aspinall.

gettyimages 2148334101 612x612 1 — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

“I don’t think [fighting Pereira] is a good idea for Aspinall at this moment,” Guimarães said. “We have to see what’s going to happen. I think it’s still too premature. Aspinall is the interim champion, why would he risk fighting ‘Poatan’? I don’t think it makes much sense [for Aspinall], I don’t think it’s a good idea [for Aspinall]. For us, it is [a good idea].”

Ultimately, the plan for Pereira is to defend his light heavyweight title next, but his manager isn’t ruling out a fight at heavyweight in the future.

Alex Pereira at heavyweight? Not now, thanks — Mandatory Credit: Carmen Mandato

“He has the desire, and I’ll tell you this, he’s going to do an incredible job at heavyweight,” Guimarães said. “He’s a super tough fight for anyone in the heavyweight division as well. He’s hungry to fight. He says his time is running out, and he wants to achieve the most he can. He’s extremely confident, and I think he would shine at heavyweight. Let’s see what the UFC has on the table for us, but he won’t be fighting in Rio de Janeiro.”

Alex Pereira calls for heavyweight title fight with Tom Apsinall at UFC 301 on May 4

After making quick work of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Alex Pereira has his sights set on a quick…

After making quick work of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Alex Pereira has his sights set on a quick turnaround and heavyweight gold.

Stepping inside the Octagon to defend his light heavyweight title for the first time, ‘Poatan’ delivered another jaw-dropping finish, putting ‘Sweet Dreams’ to sleep with a slick left uppercut that sent Hill crashing to the canvas. A few ground-and-pound shots later, that was all she wrote.

Speaking with Joe Rogan immediately following his seventh career win inside the Octagon, Pereira alluded to a potential showdown with reigning interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall at UFC 301 next month when the promotion returns to Rio de Janeiro.

“I want to keep continuing to defend this belt,” Pereira said. “I talked a lot about fighting in Brazil if I won this fight. I won this fight. I’m not hurt. Nothing happened. I know there needs to be a lot of promotion behind a fight, but I want to have a fight at heavyweight.”

As exciting as Alex Pereira’s uFC 301 proposal is, it’s not very likely

With the UFC’s next pay-per-view event a mere three weeks away, it’s hard to imagine that the promotion can pull together such a massive fight in such a short period.

Play-by-play man Jon Anik also suggested during the UFC 300 broadcast that Pereira may have suffered some kind of injury to his foot during his brief encounter with Hill which could further complicate things.

Still, it’s an exciting proposal and one that could help bolster UFC 301 — a card sorely lacking in star power.

Ciryl Gane offers to fight Tom Aspinall at UFC Paris in September amid ducking claims: ‘Stop tripping’

Former interim heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane has offered to fight current interim titleholder, Tom Aspinall in a return to…

Former interim heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane has offered to fight current interim titleholder, Tom Aspinall in a return to the Octagon atop a planned UFC Fight Night Paris card in September – denying claims he turned down fights against him, nor a clash with Russian contender, Sergei Pavlovich.

Gane, the current number two ranked heavyweight contender, has been sidelined since last September – most recently turning in a dominant second round knockout win over Serghei Spivac in the pair’s headliner.

Ciryl Gane reflects on home robbery during UFC Paris he did a great job — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Trotted out in his native France twice thus far since the promotion’s landing in the country, Gane had previously stopped Tai Tuivasa with a vicious knockout at the Accor Arena – before failing to land vacant gold in a heavyweight title fight against current champion, Jon Jones.

Weighing up his options ahead of a return to the Octagon this summer – potentially at a pay-per-view card in Manchester, Aspinall has welcomed the chance to fight Curtis Blaydes in a future interim title rematch, before claiming Gane had turned down multiple opportunities to fight him inside the Octagon.

Ciryl Gane responds to Tom Aspinall

Reacting to the Atherton native’s claims this week, Gane denied that suggestion, before offering to fight the Brit in a September return to the Octagon.

Ciryl Gane heralded after UFC Paris knockout win he's still title contender — Mandatory Credit: Anthony Dibon

“I never say no to any challenge or any opponent,” Ciryl Gane posted on his official X account. “(Curtis) Blaydes was never an option. They [the UFC] said (Sergei) Pavlovich. I said yes. Don’t worry, I’ll see you in September. Stop tripping.”

Himself winning interim spoils last November at Madison Square Garden, Aspinall turned in a dominant first round KO win over the above-mentioned, Pavlovich – and has since chased a title unification bout, unsuccessfully, against the above-mentioned, Jones.

Who wins in a future title fight: Tom Aspinall or Ciryl Gane?