New interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall shut down Ciryl Gane's callout after UFC 295.
Tom Aspinall shut down Ciryl Gane’s callout after UFC 295.
Aspinall (14-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in the first round to become interim heavyweight champion in Saturday’s co-headliner at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Prior to getting the call to face Pavlovich, Aspinall flew to Paris to watch Ciryl Gane beat Sergei Spivac. Aspinall wanted Gane next, but “Bon Gamin” was solely focused on fighting up the rankings. Now that Aspinall is interim champion, Gane is interested in the fight.
“Congratulations, Tom. You are now the champion and become the one being pursued, and I am the hunter. See you soon
.”
Congratulations, Tom.
You are now the champion and become the one being pursued, and I am the hunter. See you soon
— Ciryl Gane (@ciryl_gane) November 12, 2023
Aspinall flipped the tables on Gane, suggesting he fight Jailton Almeida (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) instead.
“That’s interesting after I just called him out, went to France, and he turned the fight down,” Aspinall told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the UFC 295 post-event news conference. “I think he should fight Almeida. I think them guys should fight each other first and see what happens there.”
Almeida agrees with Aspinall. The Brazilian, who’s unbeaten in the octagon, called out Gane (12-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) after he dominated Derrick Lewis in the UFC Fight Night 231 headliner. Almeida doubled down on his callout.
“I have bad news for you, my friend. You will have to face me before!
@Mickmaynard2 @danawhite.”
I have bad news for you, my friend. You will have to face me before!
@Mickmaynard2 @danawhite https://t.co/pjyAvaou6Z
— Jailton Almeida “Malhadinho” (@Malhadinho_UFC) November 12, 2023
“The champ already said Bon Gamin. The time is now. Me and you. Almeida vs Gane and the winner go to the title! Lets do it! Can be in France, can be in Brazil, can be in Saudit Arabia, can be UFC 300, anyplace, any time @ciryl_gane @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite.”
The champ already said Bon Gamin. The time is now. Me and you. Almeida vs Gane and the winner go to the title! Lets do it! Can be in France, can be in Brazil, can be in Saudit Arabia, can be UFC 300, anyplace, any time @ciryl_gane @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite pic.twitter.com/lFg2JmOlmo
— Jailton Almeida “Malhadinho” (@Malhadinho_UFC) November 12, 2023
Aspinall hopes to land his dream fight against UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones next. However, Jones is expected to have his title fight with Stipe Miocic rebooked once he returns from injury.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.
