Tom Aspinall reacts to Ciryl Gane’s win over Alex Pereira amid more foul claims

Tom Aspinall has welcomed a rematch with Ciryl Gane on the latter’s home turf, despite questioning the legality of the Frenchman’s fight-winning strikes against Alex Pereira.

On Sunay, Gane stopped Pereira in the second round as they fought in the co-main event of the UFC’s remarkable White House event. The victory saw Gane become a two-time interim heavyweight champion, seemingly setting up a rematch with undisputed champion Aspinall.

In October, Gane fought Aspinall to a no-contest in Abu Dhabi, with the bout halted late in round one after Gane landed several eye pokes. Aspinall required double eye surgery as a result, and the Briton only recently returned to training. Now, he looks set for a rematch with Gane to unify the heavyweight belts.

In a video posted on Aspinall’s YouTube channel, the 33-year-old was filmed watching Gane vs Pereira and reacting in real time.

“Oh, good jab,” Aspinall said after Gane dropped Pereira in the second round. “Oh, they look a bit illegal,” Aspinall added, as Gane appeared to land punches and elbows to the back of Pereira’s head. “They look very illegal,” Aspinall continued, as Gane landed further strikes.

“What is going on? Dropped him with a jab, then swinging, now he’s trying to finish him. He’s still trying, though, Alex – still trying, still looks a bit wobbled, though.

“Oh, good elbow. Pereira’s done, Pereira’s done here. [The referee] needs to stop it, yep.”

Gane’s victory over Pereira ended the latter’s bid to become the UFC’s first-ever three-weight champion; the Brazilian is a former middleweight and two-time light-heavyweight title holder.

Of Gane, Aspinall said: “He looked good, he looked good. I have to watch that again, it looked like there was a lot of illegal elbows going on and illegal punches. But generally he looked good.”

In Gane’s post-fight interview in the cage, the 36-year-old hinted at a rematch with Aspinall, saying: “Next, everybody knows already. Let’s do that in Paris in September.”

“Paris in September, eh?” Aspinall responded in his YouTube video. “I’ll do that. I’ll do that, let me know. I don’t mind [it being on Gane’s terms], I don’t mind. I’ll go to Paris, let me know. I’ll be there.

“Ciryl Gane in Paris, let’s go. I’m back training now, literally right now. We’re going, let’s go.”

Gane previously held the interim heavyweight belt in 2021, before failing to dethrone official champion Francis Ngannou in 2022. One year later, Gane lost another undisputed-title fight, as he was submitted by Jon Jones.

As such, his bout with Aspinall in October marked his third unsuccessful attempt to win undisputed gold, but he will seemingly get a fourth chance later this year.