Jon Jones backs Ciryl Gane to dethrone Tom Aspinall in heavyweight unification rematch

Jon Jones has publicly backed Ciryl Gane to beat Tom Aspinall when the pair meet in a heavyweight title unification rematch, telling Ring Magazine that Gane’s confidence is at an all-time high following his interim championship victory over Alex Pereira.

Gane (14-2) and Aspinall (15-3) first met at UFC 321 last October, but the fight ended in a no-contest after a double eye poke from Gane left Aspinall unable to continue in the opening round. While Aspinall subsequently underwent eye surgery, Gane capitalised on the opportunity by defeating Pereira to claim the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250, setting up a title unification clash.

Jones, who holds a first-round guillotine choke victory over Gane from their 2023 meeting for the vacant heavyweight title, believes the Frenchman’s trajectory gives him a decisive psychological edge heading into the rematch.

“I believe Gane’s going to win,” Jones said. “When you become the champion and you beat a man like Alex Pereira, it has to do something for your confidence. Even in Gane’s first fight with Tom Aspinall, Tom was looking pretty invincible until Ciryl Gane. And most people feel like Gane was winning that fight. I feel like Gane’s confidence has to be at an all-time high.”

Jones’s assessment echoes a view shared by UFC CEO Dana White, who was among those who felt Gane had been winning the first fight for as long as it lasted. The no-contest outcome left the heavyweight picture unresolved and made a rematch inevitable.

The relationship between Jones and Aspinall has been notably fractious. The two traded barbs publicly on multiple occasions before Jones ultimately vacated the heavyweight belt, a decision that contributed directly to the current title situation. Jones’s endorsement of Gane over his former rival adds another layer of intrigue to a division that has rarely been short of storylines.