Tom Aspinall ready for September UFC return against Ciryl Gane

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall says he will be ready to face Frenchman Ciryl Gane in an undisputed title fight in Paris in September.

Aspinall is recovering from an eye injury and watched as Gane got the better of Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight title at Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.

Although not mentioning Aspinall by name after the win, Gane, 36, has made it clear he is ready for a rematch and the Briton has called for that fight to happen in France.

“Paris in September? I’ll do that,” said Aspinall. “I’ll go to Paris. Let me know. I’ll be there.”

Last October’s first fight between the pair was deemed a no contest because of repeated eye pokes from Gane which left Aspinall unable to continue.

The Briton underwent surgery in February after suffering damage to both eyes but said in May that he was back in non-contact training.

Aspinall called Gane a “cheater” after that bout and has now criticised Gane’s use of elbows in his win over Pereira.

Gane dropped Pereira with a left hand before appearing to land elbows to the back of the Brazilian’s head, which is illegal in MMA, although referee Herb Dean did not call any foul.

The second-round stoppage at the event, which took place on US President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, ended Pereira’s hopes of becoming the UFC’s first three-division champion.

“[The elbows] look a bit illegal,” said the 33-year-old. “They look very illegal. What is going on? Dropped him with a jab and he’s swinging now trying to finish him.

“He looked good. I have to watch that again. Looked like there was a lot of illegal elbows going on. Illegal punches but generally he looked good.”