Tom Aspinall has a vested interest in the Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane fight at UFC White House, to say the least.<\/p>\n
When Pereira and Gane step into the octagon on the South Lawn this Sunday, it will be for an interim heavyweight title that was created in the absence of Aspinall, the UFC\u2019s current undisputed champion. Aspinall defended his title against Gane this past October at UFC 321, but the bout ended in disaster for both fighters when Gane accidentally poked Aspinall the eyes, bringing an unceremonious end to the fight that was officially ruled a no-contest. Worse, Aspinall has been sidelined since as he recovers from the eye injuries with no clear timetable for his return to action.<\/p>\n
Though Aspinall will not be in attendance at the White House, he\u2019ll be watching Sunday\u2019s co-main event closely, with the understanding that he will meet the winner in a title unification bout. He gave his analysis of the fight on his YouTube<\/a> channel, focusing on one key factor he thinks could have a significant impact on the outcome.<\/p>\n \u201cAlex Pereira, absolute wrecking machine at middleweight and light heavy,\u201d Aspinall said. \u201cHow does he look at heavyweight because that\u2019s a different thing, that is, especially fighting a guy who\u2019s naturally big and moves really well like Ciryl Gane? Going to be super, super interesting. I don\u2019t know how it\u2019s going to go. There\u2019s a lot of Chama fans out there, I see, who think this is going to be a walkover. I don\u2019t think it is, personally. I think it should be a good heavyweight fight.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the most interesting thing for me is when you start changing your body composition and you go up massively in weight, how does that look down the stretch in a five-round fight when you\u2019re fighting a big guy, moves a lot. That\u2019s the interesting thing for me. I\u2019m not doubting Alex Pereira\u2019s power, I\u2019m not doubting his skill set, what I am questionable of is the change in body composition, in 25 minutes how does that look?\u201d<\/p>\n Pereira has already claimed titles in two divisions, defeating longtime rival Israel Adesanya to claim a 185-pound championship and then winning a vacant light heavyweight belt by defeating Jiri Prochazka. During his unprecedented rise to the top, \u201cPoatan\u201d has become famous for his knockout power, having finished Adesanya, Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev, Jamahal Hill, Khalil Rountree, and Sean Strickland.<\/p>\n Aspinall isn\u2019t doubting Pereira\u2019s finishing ability, but he is curious how the Brazilian\u2019s power will translate up one more weight class.<\/p>\n \u201cListen, he might get a knockout, but it\u2019s interesting, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Aspinall said. \u201cThat\u2019s the talking point. It\u2019s interesting because he\u2019s a two-weight world champion going up about to potentially win his third UFC title at three weights, which is unprecedented, so how does that look when a guy can walk around 84 kilos or 185 pounds-not walk around, but weigh that\u2013and then now they\u2019re going to be fighting someone 115 kilos or 250 pounds. How\u2019s that going to look?\u201d<\/p>\n Shoud Pereira defeat Gane, he\u2019ll become the first UFC fighter ever to hold a title in three divisions. Much of the matchup analysis has revolved around Pereira\u2019s one-punch KO power and Gane\u2019s incredible athleticism, factors that Aspinall says were also present when Pereira fought in lighter divisions. However, now that Pereira could be dealing wit a speed and size disadvantage, that raises new questions.<\/p>\n \u201cAlex Pereira doesn\u2019t move too much,\u201d Aspinall said. \u201cHe\u2019s quite flatfooted, even when he was at the smaller weights. That being said, if you want to go on the flipside of it, he has fought guys like Israel Adesanya three times is it, four times? Someone like [Adesanya] is on the move constantly. Someone like him, on the flipside, who\u2019s on the move constantly, isn\u2019t the size of a guy like Ciryl Gane, and Alex Pereira wasn\u2019t the size that he is now.<\/p>\n \u201cSo when he\u2019s chasing someone and he\u2019s weighed in the day before at 84 kilos or he\u2019s chasing someone and he\u2019s weighed in the day before at 110 kilos, what does it look like? This is interesting. I\u2019m not saying that he can\u2019t do it at all, but I\u2019m just saying these are the questions that are going to be interesting for me.\u201d<\/p>\n As close as the matchup is on paper, Aspinall is willing to offer his pick for the fight\u2014and possibly his next opponent.<\/p>\n \u201cPrediction could go either way for me, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised either way, and there will be people watching saying, \u2018Oh, he\u2019s sitting on the fence, blah blah blah,\u2019\u201d Aspinall said. \u201cIf I was leaning one way, it would be Ciryl Gane on points. If I was leaning a particular way. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Alex knocks him out though, either, but I would definitely lean more towards Gane on points.\u201d<\/p>\n Plans. UFC White House producer details planning for outdoor elements<\/a>, bad weather contingencies.<\/p>\n Mad. Ilia Topuria won\u2019t shake Justin Gaethje\u2019s hand after UFC White House main event: \u2018I\u2019m not going to show him any respect.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Disrespect. Alex Pereira questions \u2018disrespectful\u2019<\/a> Josh Hokit\u2019s future in UFC; Hokit calls clash \u2018inevitable.\u2019<\/p>\n Classy. Video: Josh Hokit hurls profane insults<\/a> at Alex Pereira during hotel run-in.<\/p>\n Poke. Ciryl Gane responds to Tom Aspinall calling him a cheater<\/a> after eye poke controversy: \u2018This is his opinion.\u2019<\/p>\n Assault. RAF\u2019s Georgio Poullas arrested for allegedly slamming<\/a> brother of sister\u2019s groom through glass table.<\/p>\n Banned. Sean Strickland responds to Dana White denying he\u2019s banned<\/a> from UFC White House.<\/p>\n UFC White House Media Day.<\/p>\n UFC White House embedded, ep. 3.<\/p>\n Jed was on Morning Kombat.<\/p>\n SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE<\/p>\n Everybody bombs sometime.<\/p>\n Blood, sweat, and secret juice.<\/p>\n If you find something you\u2019d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee<\/a> of @JedKMeshew<\/a> on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitch<\/a>, and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n