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Former UFC heavyweight king slams ‘beginner’ Ciryl Gane as he predicts UFC 321 main event

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Jamie Theodosi | Last updated Oct 25, 2025 12:41 PM ET

Ahead of the UFC 321 main event clash between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum has had his say.

In the premier promotion’s return to Abu Dhabi on Saturday, Tom Aspinall makes the first defense of his undisputed heavyweight title when he takes on Ciryl Gane in the UFC 321 main event.

The clash is being widely looked at as one of the most unique heavyweight title fights in UFC history because of the skillsets of both Aspinall and ‘Bon Gamin’.

Despite that, the Frenchman isn’t being given much of a chance when it comes to predictions from former professionals and analysts of the sport, with Aspinall going in as a big favorite.

Former champ slams ‘beginner’ Gane as he backs Aspinall win

Fortunately, the heavyweight division is somewhat moving on, ending what has been a dark cloud over the division for the past four and a half years.

And one fighter who used to reign over the division during what some would say were its glory days, was Fabricio Werdum, who scored a submission win over Cain Velasquez to become the champion in 2015.

The Brazilian believes a key part of this fight could be the British champion’s advantage on the ground, and he envisions a world in which Aspinall scores just his third UFC win by submission.

“Honestly, between us, on the ground Gane is a blue belt level,” he told Gilbert Burns on his YouTube channel.

“And in terms of pure BJJ standards, I’d call him a very early beginner blue belt. Like someone who only just got the belt. He can’t set up a proper guard, he doesn’t know how to do a hip escape, he doesn’t know how to make technical stand ups.

“When he got caught in the guillotine by Jon Jones, he didn’t even know what to do. He just accepted the submission, that’s it. He panicked. A fighter on this level shouldn’t be afraid of anything on the ground.

“I think Aspinall submits him in the first or second round, and most likely with a (rear-naked choke)… Once he gets hit, he turns away, gives up his neck – and that’s it,” he continued.

Will Gane showcase improvements on the ground?

Fortunately for the French contender, Aspinall isn’t the type of fighter who relies on his ground game to win him fights and so this fight may play out on the feet for as long as it lasts.

Despite that, Gane’s team is confident that ‘Bon Gamin’ has made improvements on the ground since his last submission loss to Jon Jones, but only time will tell whether he is able to prevent this fight from going to the ground.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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