Tom Aspinall (image via YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Tom Aspinall is still calling for a fight with Ciryl Gane. But, if the former interim champ isn’t interested in the bout, the rising heavyweight will turn his attention elsewhere. Namely, to Sergei Pavlovich.

Heading into UFC Paris, Aspinall reported he wanted to face the winner of the Gane – Sergey Spivak fight. Following Gane’s dominant, stoppage win on Saturday, he didn’t commit to fighting Aspinall. Rather, Gane said he wants to wait and see what happens in the November 11th fight between champion Jon Jones and former champ, Stipe Miocic.

While talking to The Mac Life afterward Aspinall noted he has another option, the aforementioned Pavlovich, if Gane isn’t interested (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“I’m no bully. If he doesn’t want the fight, I’m not going to try and force it on him. I wanted to go in the cage. The UFC didn’t want me to go in the cage. Yeah, if he wants the fight, it’s here. If he doesn’t want the fight, we’ll see. I know I’m a bad matchup for him. I think that stylistically it’s a good matchup for me, but if he doesn’t want it, then I understand.”

“…Well, that only leaves one guy left: the big Russian fella who nobody wants,” Aspinall said. “I’m happy to step up and take that. Like I’m more than happy to fight Sergei Pavlovich. I was supposed to fight two times before. The fights didn’t happen for whatever reason. Yeah, let’s do it. I’m happy to fight anyone that gets me close to the title.”

Pavlovich (18-1) is coming off a first-round, stoppage win over Blaydes in April and has won six straight fights.

Aspinall (13-3), meanwhile, stopped Marcin Tybura in the first round this past July. The fight was Aspinall’s first since July, 2022, when he incurred a knee injury shortly into his bout with Blaydes.

Heading into UFC Paris, Aspinall was ranked #4 in the promotion’s heavyweight rankings and Pavlovich was #1.