Mike Tyson, Ronda Rousey Roped In as Tom Aspinall Poised for Long-Drawn Battle at UFC 321

The heavyweight division’s biggest showdown is finally set: the undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will face Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, with many predicting Aspinall to win. However, not everyone agrees with this simple prediction. MMA analyst Chael Sonnen warns that this fight could be far more complex than it seems, testing not only power but also endurance, resilience, and the mental toll of adversity, all with the division’s future hanging in the balance.

‘The American Gangster’ noted that Ciryl Gane’s fight style is a challenge that extends beyond physical strength. “The matchup is not the easiest of matchups for Tom. Just that style, just the way that Ciryl moves, just the way that Ciryl can stay out of punches, not to mention he can take a pretty good punch,” he stated on his YouTube channel.

Gane’s defensive talents and ability to remain calm under pressure may pull ‘The Briton’ out of his comfort zone, especially if the fight goes past the early rounds, where Tom Aspinall has dominated in the past. Sonnen compared Aspinall’s rise to that of combat superstars such as Mike Tyson and Ronda Rousey, warning that early success without challenges may mask a fighter’s true preparedness.

“It’s not Tom’s fault. It wasn’t Mike Tyson’s fault. It wasn’t Ronda Rousey’s fault. But when a sport that is, remained by nature to be extremely difficult for you within your own experiences, hasn’t been difficult again,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. He compared Tyson’s first-round knockouts to Rousey’s quick submissions of several challengers, suggesting parallels with Aspinall’s finish streak.

According to ‘The American Gangster,’ while Aspinall has defeated every UFC opponent he has faced, the majority of those victories did not test his endurance in later rounds. Chael Sonnen also stressed that stepping into a five-round fight, where the first two rounds might slip away, could be a pivotal moment. “What are you going to do if you’re 20 minutes in and down two rounds? You’re going to guess that your training will kick in,” he observed.

This insight highlights the true danger of fighting someone like Ciryl Gane, whose style may break Tom Aspinall’s rhythm and force him into an unknown area where instinct and adaptation are just as important as power and aggression. For Chael Sonnen, the contest is more than just a title defense; it’s a reckoning.

The heavyweight division thrives on uncertainty, and Gane’s elusive approach may reveal the limits of Aspinall’s early domination. And to make sure it really happens, ‘Bon Gamin’ is leaving no stone unturned.

Ciryl Gane and team are all prepared for Tom Aspinall’s fight game

Ciryl Gane is well aware of the worries about his ground game following two career losses—to Francis Ngannou, whom he battled for five rounds, and Jon Jones, who submitted him early. He agreed that sometimes life is strange, since poor results make people believe you haven’t worked hard on your ground game or grappling, despite the fact that he and coach Fernand Lopez have been diligently training to improve in those areas.

However, all this hasn’t made him lose trust in his team. “These are experts. We know exactly what we’re doing… I’ve been working, and hopefully I can show it this time around,” he said. In fact, they have started doubling down together, as ‘Bon Gamin’ has been completely focused on training since his last bout in December, particularly following a brief injury layoff earlier this year.

“During January and February, I was resting a little bit… But since March I’ve really been training, giving it my all. I’ve not been training PlayStation or going to the Champions League or watching other events like some of the others,” he said, highlighting his full focus on preparing for Aspinall.

Despite acknowledging Tom Aspinall’s submission skills and quick knockouts, Ciryl Gane remains convinced that he is prepared for anything. He emphasized that, while the Briton has the answer already, he fights differently. Gane feels Aspinall will change, but he is also prepared, hoping to show that his improved game and mindset will allow him to face the challenge head-on when they meet at UFC 321 in October.