Tom Aspinall, recovering from eye surgeries due to illegal eye pokes sustained in his recent fight with Ciryl Gane, has voiced concerns about Gane's performance in the interim heavyweight title bout against Alex Pereira. Gane won the match via technical knockout, but several strikes he delivered, including multiple elbows, appeared to land illegally on the back of Pereira's head. Aspinall, while analyzing the fight, stated that Pereira seemed sluggish and did not effectively engage Gane. The victory sets up a potential rematch between Aspinall and Gane for title unification, planned for UFC's September Fight Night in Paris.

By the Numbers
  • Gane's fight against Pereira ended in a TKO in the second round.
  • Aspinall endured multiple eye surgeries after his October matchup with Gane, where illegal eye pokes were a factor.
Yes, But

The controversy surrounding Gane's victory stems from the illegal strikes that went unaddressed by the referee, leading to debates about fight officiating and the integrity of outcomes in MMA.

State of Play
  • Gane became the interim heavyweight champion following his victory over Pereira, despite concerns over illegal strikes.
  • Aspinall is still recuperating from eye surgery but indicated readiness to fight Gane in September.
What's Next

The UFC is considering a rematch between Gane and Aspinall for the heavyweight title unification, with discussions ongoing about the event location and date in Paris.

Bottom Line

The upcoming potential matchup between Gane and Aspinall could define the future of the heavyweight division, particularly concerning fight rules and officiating practices, as controversies from previous bouts loom large.