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Breaking Down Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones After Watching Both Face Ciryl Gane
At UFC 321, fans witnessed arguably the most unsatisfying main event ending of the year. With just 30 seconds left in the first round, Ciryl Gane accidentally double eye-poked Tom Aspinall, forcing the bout to be ruled a no-contest. As a result, the Brit retained his heavyweight title, but the fight left a space in everyone’s minds — what could’ve happened if the fight had moved on? While many fans were understandably disappointed, some also pointed out how, for the first time, Aspinall seemed to be facing a real challenge.
Heading into his first title defense, most people expected Aspinall to make quick work of Gane, just as he had with everyone else before. The reigning heavyweight champ’s power had already built his reputation as the man who could potentially flatline Jon Jones. However, the Abu Dhabi main event told a slightly different story. ‘Bon Gamin’ actually managed to take a round off the defending champion, proving that Aspinall wasn’t untouchable after all. Because of that, the doubts have started creeping in. Can Tom Aspinall really beat ‘Bones’ if they ever share the Octagon?
Tom Aspinall’s UFC 321 performance vs Ciryl Gane isn’t a fair comparison for Jon Jones fight
Before Tom Aspinall stepped into the cage with Ciryl Gane in the UFC 321 main event, he finished every single opponent in the first round and earned a reputation as an unstoppable juggernaut. However, after defending his interim title by knocking out Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July 2024, the Brit found himself sidelined for over a year before returning against Gane in Abu Dhabi. That long layoff might’ve played a part in what looked like a touch of ring rust.
Looking closely at the fight, Aspinall still moved well, bouncing on his feet, but his punches seemed just a bit more labored than usual. Even Daniel Cormier pointed it out on commentary. As the round went on, though, Aspinall started to find his rhythm, landing some solid combinations. Still, credit where it’s due, Ciryl Gane looked sharper than ever. His stand-up had clearly evolved, and his takedown defense showed massive improvement.
‘Bon Gamin’ smartly worked behind his jab and leg kicks, making it difficult for Aspinall to close the distance. He kept his strikes compact and precise, never overextending, which actually allowed him to read and stuff the champ’s takedown attempts. In short, Aspinall wasn’t facing the same Gane who froze against Jon Jones at UFC 285. This was a more calculated, cautious, and technically evolved version.
