Ciryl Gane is done staying quiet.After months of accusations from Tom Aspinall following their controversial no-contest at UFC 321, Ciryl Gane has finally responded and he didn’t hold back.
Gane returns to action in a high-stakes matchup against Alex Pereira at the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House lawn. But before fight night arrives, the French heavyweight has addressed the noise surrounding his last outing.
Aspinall had accused Ciryl Gane of intentionally fouling him with eye pokes during their title fight, a claim that lingered for months as the British champion dealt with recovery setbacks.
“Tom’s communication strategy was terrible,” Gane said. “Now he’s signed with an agency, and I hope they help him, because it was a disaster. Sometimes it’s better not to say anything. These things happen.”
Ciryl Gane made it clear that he never took the accusations seriously, even as they gained traction online.
“You don’t need to exaggerate it,” Gane continued. “The guy was like, ‘Ahh, ahh,’ acting like he couldn’t even drive anymore. He said so many things and spent so much time trying to accuse me of who knows what. At some point, it just didn’t make sense anymore.”
The fallout from UFC 321 has divided opinions. Some backed Aspinall’s frustration after the fight ended abruptly, while others questioned how far he took the narrative. Ciryl Gane falls firmly in the second group and he believes even Aspinall’s supporters started to feel the same way.
“Even his own fans must’ve been like, ‘That’s enough, relax,’” Gane said. “These things happen. People had his back, but he should have calmed down a bit. For me, it didn’t matter. Social media is secondary.”
While the back-and-forth continues, Ciryl Gane is shifting his attention where it matters most—the Octagon. His upcoming clash with Pereira carries major implications for the heavyweight division, especially with Aspinall’s return timeline still unclear.
A win could put Ciryl Gane right back in line for another title shot or even a rematch with Aspinall when the champion is fully cleared.
“I wasn’t affected at all,” he said. “I’m focused on my fight. That’s the only thing that matters.”
Ciryl Gane has said his piece. Now, he plans to do the rest with his performance.
