Copyright GIVEMESPORT
Tom Aspinall returns to action for the first time since July 2024 when he faces Cyril Gane in the main event of UFC 321 on Saturday night. The Brit makes his first defence of the UFC Heavyweight Championship in Abu Dhabi, having been upgraded from interim titleholder after Jon Jones retired in June. Aspinall has never suffered a legitimate defeat inside the Octagon. The 32-year-old's sole setback came as a result of a freak incident in his July 2022 meeting with Curtis Blaydes. The contest was just 15 seconds old when Tom suffered a knee injury that ended the fight instantly. Outside of that bout, Aspinall has been perfect in the UFC. He has finished each of his seven other fights by stoppage, never going beyond the second round. However, France's Gane could prove his toughest test yet if a comparison of the pair's physiques on fight week is anything to go by. In his 15-fight MMA career, Gane has lost just twice. Both of those defeats have come when the 35-year-old has been competing for UFC gold. His first crack at the gold came at UFC 270, when he lost a unanimous decision to Francis Ngannou. When 'The Predator' left the promotion due to a contract dispute, though, Gane was handed another opportunity to compete for the division's biggest prize. This time, the Paris native faced off with Jon Jones for the vacant crown at UFC 285 in March 2023. Again, Gane was unable to pull off the victory. Jones won via submission in the first round without ever throwing a strike. To his credit, Gane has rebounded well from the loss, reeling off wins against Serghei Spivac and Alexander Volkov to land Saturday's showdown with Aspinall. The challenger is once again a significant underdog heading into the contest, but there's no denying that he has been working hard in the gym. Ciryl Gane's Physique Ahead of UFC 321 Fight vs Tom Aspinall is Seriously Impressive A side-by-side comparison of the physique of both champion and challenger has emerged in the days leading up the fight, and it's staggering to see how much bigger Gane looks than Aspinall. Both men stand at six foot, five inches and have typically weighed around 250lbs in their careers. When viewing the duo alongside one another, it is impossible not to notice how much more muscular Gane is than his opponent. The challenger sports an impressive ripped physique and is far bulkier than Aspinall. While the Brit is far from out of shape himself, he lacks the size of his opponent. In terms of raw power inside the Octagon, it is likely that Gane will enjoy an advantage. Ciryl is known more for his footwork and ability to control the distance than he is for pressuring his opponents, and just because he has packed on plenty of muscle, it doesn't mean he will deviate from that gameplan. However, having been handily defeated in his two previous efforts at winning the heavyweight title, Gane's physique may be a sign that he is willing to change things up in pursuit of glory. Aspinall has generally dominated every opponent he has faced in the UFC, with few able to offer much resistance. Gane, though, may not be the easiest man for him to impose his will upon, judging by the pair's current physiques. Having spent years waiting for the opportunity to compete in a full UFC Heavyweight Championship contest, Aspinall now has just a short while to wait before finally achieving that goal. Whether he alters his approach on the biggest stage of his career remains to be seen.
