The eye-poke incident in Abu Dhabi added yet another chapter to the string of unfortunate moments in Tom Aspinall’s career. What makes this setback even harder to swallow is that the Englishman was making his long-awaited return to the Octagon after a 14-month layoff, fully healthy and eager to finally defend his title. Aspinall’s path to this moment had already been filled with frustration, as months of stalled negotiations with Jon Jones ended only when ‘Bones’ retired, elevating Aspinall to undisputed champion by default.
Now, after UFC 321’s disastrous ending, fans are hoping they won’t have to wait long to see him make his first official title defense. Fortunately, former middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes there’s a solution.
The UFC Hall of Famer has proposed a way to rebook the Aspinall vs. Gane fight as soon as possible, offering fans hope that this 265-lb rivalry can finally be settled properly.
Michael Bisping Wants UFC To Close out ESPN Era With a Bang
The former 185-lb kingpin believes the promotion could quickly run back Aspinall vs. Gane in the coming two months. According to Michael Bisping, the rematch could take place as early as UFC 323 on December 6, which is not only the final pay-per-view of 2025 but also the UFC’s last PPV event on ESPN before beginning kick-starting a new broadcasting deal with Paramount in January 2026.
Speaking on the latest episode of his Believe You Me podcast with Paul Felder, Michael Bisping said, “The rematch is gonna be even bigger. They’re gonna run it back really quickly. They can put it on [the Madison Square Garden card], they could put it on at the end of the year [UFC 323].”
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Michael Bisping says UFC could stack UFC 323 with three title fights including Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane 🏆🔥
“The rematch is gonna be even bigger. They’re gonna run it back really quickly. They can put it on MSG at the end of the year. They’ve got Pantoja and Joshua Van, and… pic.twitter.com/WHuyvUspw0
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 28, 2025
For those unaware, UFC 323 is already shaping up to be massive. Merab Dvalishvili is scheduled to make his fourth bantamweight title defense of the year against Petr Yan, while the co-main event will feature Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight crown for the fifth time against Joshua Van.
Michael Bisping added, “They’ve got [Alexandre] Pantoja vs Joshua Van, and they’ve got Merab [Dvalishvili] vs Petr Yan. Stick a third title fight on there – the final one on ESPN – end of an era, go out with a bang with three title fights. They don’t have to make weight. Both men learned a little bit from what we saw.”
Michael Bisping, former UFC Middleweight Champion, suggested that the UFC should end its ESPN partnership with a blockbuster card, featuring three title fights, something rarely seen in recent years. The promotion typically limits numbered pay-per-view cards to two championship bouts, reserving triple-title events for special occasions.
One of the most memorable examples was UFC 217, where Michael Bisping himself headlined against Georges St-Pierre in what became the Canadian legend’s final fight. That event, held at Madison Square Garden, also saw T.J. Dillashaw reclaim the bantamweight belt from Cody Garbrandt and Rose Namajunas dethrone Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the strawweight title.
Other notable triple-title cards include UFC 245, UFC 259, UFC 261, and, most recently, UFC 300, which featured the light heavyweight, strawweight, and symbolic BMF titles on the line. While Dana White has hinted at an immediate rematch between Aspinall and Gane, that scenario currently appears unlikely.
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Andy Aspinall recently shared a worrying update on his son’s condition, revealing that Tom still can’t see out of his right eye, while his left eye is functioning at only about 50 percent. Given the seriousness of his injury, a quick turnaround might not be possible, but if Michael Bisping’s suggestion comes true, UFC 323 could mark a spectacular close to the ESPN era.
