It seems that two of the three options for UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall's next fight know something that the fans are not doing yet.
The Institide of Aspinall, while undisputed heavyweight King recently started without a union fight after the controversial pension of Jon Jones was raised the 30-year-old. Focus can now finally be turned away from 'bones' and what is coming.
Shortly after the news about the Englishman who inherited the crown, three options seemed to be explained for his next fight, which will follow the successful defense of the Interim -Riem Aspinall made by Curtis Blaydes in 2024.
Ciryl Gane, Jilton Almeida and Alexander Volkov were all pointed to the possibilities, and the most vocal of the three when calling Asinall may have just revealed who gets the nod.
All signs indicate Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane while Jilton Almeida and Alexander Volkov agree to fight
Although Gane and Volkov have largely remained silent with regard to the heavyweight title photo, Almeida has been incredibly active on social media to encourage the UFC to book him against Aspinall.
But the calls of the Brazilian apparently fell on deaf ears, because he has now moved his sights, which resulted in the likely choice for the next fight of the champion that is apparently revealed.
After Volkov had considered a title -eliminator against Almeida against Almeida after an interview with MMA Junkie, 'Malhadinho' went to X and suggested that all parties gave the green light for that fight, including the UFC.
“Good news (IS) is coming,” wrote Almeida on X. “Volkov had already been. I said close to his house in Abu Dhabi, he said in my house in Brazil, both said October or November, so … let's go! I love the fight and ufc loves the fight!
This makes it almost certain that Aspinall will be booked to defend his title against former interim champion Gane next. And with his desire to fight twice in 2025, there may be time for the Brit to be the winner of Volkov vs. at the end of the year. Almeida to face when he passes 'Bon Gamin'.
Good news is pearling … 🙏volkov is already agreeing. I said close to his house in Abu Dhabi, he said in my house in Brazil, both said October or November, so … let's go! I love the fight, he likes the fight and UFC loves the fight! @Mickmoynard2 @danawhite pic.twitter.com/k1cg6foxpt
– Jailton Almeida “Malhadinho” (@malhadinho_ufc) July 9, 2025
View tweet
Tom Aspinall says that 'Ducking' Ciryl Gane is a beating
If the Gane fight comes to bloom, it will have come for Aspinall for a long time.
While he outlined his three options during a performance on the diary of a CEO podcast, Aspinall said that Gane is “a beating” after rejecting a fight against the Englishman before he won the interim title at the end of 2023.
“I actually fought a lot of the top 10,” said Aspinall. “One of the boys I didn't fight is Ciryl Gane, a French man.
“I actually hunted that fight a few times before. He dived and dived around a bit. He is a bit of a mistreatment of me. I look forward to it.
“There are still a few boys in the ranking, a Brazilian man, Jilton Almeida, I didn't fight,” Aspinall added. “There is a man I have already defeated named Alexander Volkov who is also doing very well for himself.”