Volkov Assesses Aspinall vs. Gane Clash at UFC 321

Alexander Volkov has given his assessment of the upcoming fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, terming it a ’50-50′ contest at the UFC 321 main event slated for later this month.

Aspinall, the current undisputed heavyweight champion, is preparing to defend his title for the first time against Gane of France in Abu Dhabi on October 25.

The British fighter will enter the Octagon after a 14-month absence, while Gane will be aiming for the UFC heavyweight title for the third time, following previous unsuccessful attempts against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.

Volkov is also scheduled to compete on the same card as Aspinall and Gane. The Russian UFC combatant will face Jailton Almeida in a heavyweight showdown on the main card.

In a conversation with MMA Junkie, Volkov drew upon his experiences against both fighters, forecasting a closely contested match.

“Both fighters are skilled, with Ciryl Gane displaying excellent movement and footwork. His grappling has also improved significantly with dedicated training. Therefore, I believe it’s a 50-50 fight,” Volkov stated.

Volkov reflected on his own encounters with both athletes, noting that while Tom Aspinall appears to have an edge, the outcome remains uncertain.

“The fight’s trajectory will depend on the initial moments and the fighters’ preparation. Gane seems highly motivated to win the title. It’s a 50-50 situation, but based on my fights with both, Aspinall seems to have a slight advantage. However, anything can happen in a fight,” Volkov concluded.

Volkov previously faced Aspinall in 2022 and Gane in December 2024, suffering defeats in both matches.