Ciryl Gane Eyes Rematch with Alex Pereira if Aspinall Delays Return

Ciryl Gane isn’t waiting around.

The UFC interim heavyweight champion has made it clear: if Tom Aspinall’s damaged eye keeps the undisputed king on the shelf, he’s ready to run it back with Alex Pereira – and to do it next.

A Controversial Night, An Open Door

Gane’s first meeting with Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 ended in chaos and debate. He walked away with a knockout win and the interim heavyweight belt, but the finish came under a cloud. Several of the punches and elbows that hurt Pereira landed to the back of the Brazilian’s head, sparking instant controversy and a wave of slow-motion replays.

Referee Herb Dean never stepped in with a warning, let alone a point deduction. No penalty, no restart. Gane kept pressing, the referee saw enough, and the Frenchman left with gold around his waist and a guaranteed shot at Aspinall.

The belt was his. The argument never really stopped.

Gane’s Priority: Aspinall – But Not at Any Cost

Speaking to RMC Sport, Gane underlined what he still sees as the main objective: a heavyweight title unification bout with Aspinall.

“We’re not sure (who the next opponent will be). We don’t know if there is a rematch against Tom Aspinall. We want it. The UFC talks about it with Fernand (Lopez), so we focus on Tom Aspinall,” Gane said. “If tomorrow it will be someone else, it’s okay. What I would like is either Tom Aspinall or a rematch against Alex Pereira.”

That’s the pecking order. Aspinall first. Pereira right behind.

The problem sits with the champion’s health. Aspinall still hasn’t been cleared to fight after his eye injury, and there’s no firm date for his return. Every week that passes leaves the division in limbo and the interim champion without a dance partner.

UFC’s Heavyweight Puzzle

The UFC now faces a familiar dilemma at the top of a marquee division. Fans want Aspinall vs. Gane 2. The promotion wants its titles active and visible. Medical clearance, though, doesn’t care about schedules or storylines.

If Aspinall’s eye doesn’t respond and the doctors hold him back, the UFC can’t simply freeze the heavyweight picture and hope. An interim champion needs meaningful fights, and Gane is not sounding like a man willing to sit on the sidelines while the division stalls.

That’s where Pereira re-enters the frame.

The Brazilian star, already a two-division champion at lighter weights, has no fight booked. He’s been linked to a potential clash with rival Josh Hokit, but nothing is signed, nothing announced. His calendar is open enough to entertain a second shot at Gane – this time with the controversy baked into the narrative from the opening bell.

A Rematch Loaded With Storylines

A Gane–Pereira rematch would come pre-packaged with everything the UFC likes: a disputed first finish, questions over legality, and two elite strikers with very different styles. It would also give Pereira a chance to erase the memory of that Freedom 250 ending and test whether Gane’s win was dominance or circumstance.

For Gane, the stakes are just as sharp. Beat Pereira again and he strengthens his claim as the man Aspinall must face the moment the champion returns. Slip, and the entire heavyweight hierarchy shifts overnight.

Nothing is official yet. No contracts, no posters, no date.

But one thing is clear: if Aspinall’s eye keeps him out for much longer, the UFC will have to move. And when it does, Gane has already named his plan B – a second, cleaner, and far more decisive chapter with Alex Pereira.