Mackenzie Dern - UFC strawweight champion

"I think it's going to be an amazing fight. I don't think it's going to go five rounds, but I think it's going to be Tom Aspinall. I think with the grappling and the strength, the power in his hands, he's a dangerous fighter."

Alexander Volkov - Previous opponent of Aspinall and Gane

"I'm the worst guy to give predictions - every time I give predictions I fail. But if you ask me, I think Tom Aspinall has more opportunity to win. He looks better and better. But Ciryl Gane also has the chance to put him in deep water and the last rounds. We will see because we haven't seen Aspinall in a five-round fight.

"Ciryl Gane is a good opponent for him because he can move very well, can avoid damage, and he's worked on his wrestling skills. But on paper Tom Aspinall looks much better right now."

Chris Barnett - UFC heavyweight

"I think this Aspinall has so many tools, man. I've seen him fight the world's strongest man. I've seen him roll against the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu guys. And it's like... where are the holes?

"Ciryl Gane, we've seen the holes. I'm sure somebody with his calibre, he's not going to sit there and let that be a hole for long. But that experience level with Aspinall just trumps it, so I'm going to go with Aspinall on this one."

Read more Aspinall v Gane predictions.

Daniel Cormier
Retired two-weight UFC champion on TNT Sports

He just feels like a heavyweight champion. I get that there are boxing heavyweight champions, but Tom Aspinall is the baddest man on the planet.

Tom Aspinall has a Manchester bee on his shorts tonight and he's also nodding to the city with his choice of entrance music - Oasis' 'Supersonic'.

After a brief blast from the Manchester rock band the music cuts into his more familiar 'Move On Up' by Curtis Mayfield.

A last hug with trainer and father Andy before Aspinall, who hasn't forgotten his cup, heads straight into the octagon to huge cheers.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Aspinall's UFC career began in 2020 and in the space of five years he's risen through the ranks to become the undisputed champion.

The image above on the left shows the Mancunian prior to his debut and the one of the right was taken this week.

Aside from a change in hairstyle, a few extra tattoos and of course that very lovely looking belt around his waist, Aspinall has also shaped his body to ensure he can achieve peak performance.

Earlier this week, Aspinall told BBC Sport that he has been going through "heavy" training sessions that can burn off around 2,000 calories.

• 200 burpees
• 300 sit-ups
• numerous sets of 10 press-ups

Read more about Tom Aspinall's fight camp preparation.

Ah.

Ciryl Gane is going through his final checks before entering the cage and has forgotten his cup that protects... you know.

His team are going to have to go and get it so he can put it in his shorts while Tom Aspinal arrives.

Daniel Cormier
Retired two-weight UFC champion on TNT Sports

Look at the relaxation of Ciryl Gane's face as he heads to the octagon. It almost looks as if he knows something about Aspinall that we don't.

Ciryl Gane has been smiling all week but that has been wiped off his face now as he walks to the cage with an intense look on his face.

Actually, there is a smile from the Frenchman as he hugs his team just before entering the cage but it's clear to see it's all business now.

This is Gane's third attempt to win the UFC heavyweight title, having lost against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.

Tom Aspinall is a knockdown machine. More of the same tonight?

Paul Battison
BBC Sport in Abu Dhabi

Cheers for Tom Aspinall and boos for Ciryl Gane from the Abu Dhabi crowd during the pre-fight promotional package.

They're backing the Briton in a big way here.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Aspinall makes his first walk to the octagon as the UFC's undisputed heavyweight champion shortly as the division finally feels like it has a bit of stability.

Aspinall held the interim belt for 19 months - going down as the longest-reigning interim champion in the UFC's history - due to inactivity from undisputed champion Jon Jones.

Jones beat Ciryl Gane to claim the title in March 2023 and made just one defence against Stipe Miocic in November 2024 before retiring, amid calls for him to face Aspinall, in June.

UFC president Dana White confirmed Jones' retirement and immediately upgraded Aspinall to full champion status.

With hopes of a blockbuster fight between Aspinall and Jones seemingly over, the former light-heavyweight champion reversed his retirement decision just two weeks later and announced his intent to feature on the UFC's White House card in 2026.

That leaves the door wide open for them to meet next year.

Paul Battison
BBC Sport in Abu Dhabi

It's been impressive to me how Ciryl Gane has handled himself this week.

He's come across so polite and calm, despite being booed by fans in the news conference and with many pundits predicting him to lose.

We spoke to him on Wednesday and the Frenchman's face lit up when he was asked about the movie he starred in recently, called K.O.

Gane is the lead character in the movie, which involves a lot of fight scenes, and he even showed us how to throw a fake punch.

I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a real one...

Image source, Getty Images

Ciryl Gane's skills aren't limited to inside the octagon.

The number one ranked heavyweight contender has also starred in a number of movies, and recently featured in the Netflix series La Cage alongside UFC legend Georges St-Pierre.

Gane also stars in K.O, a 2025 movie where the Frenchman plays an MMA actor who tries to avenge the death of his murdered brother.

He also features in Den of Thieves: Pantera alongside former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping.

Tom Aspinall has won his last three fights with a first round knockout - will he do the same tonight?

Frenchman Ciryl Gane has never been knocked out in his professional career so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Full steam ahead to the main event.

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and challenger Ciryl Gane will be walking to the octagon shortly.

Who wins? Cast you vote at the top of this page.

Image source, Getty Images

Mackenzie Dern speaking after becoming the UFC strawweight champion: "It feels amazing, I can't believe it.

"It wasn't the fight I expected, I thought it would be a little easier. I'm glad that the judges are starting to see a difference from when fighters are stalling and actually causing damage.

"We knew the striking would be good, I was hoping it would be even better. I feel comfortable on the ground."

Dern was then reunited with her daughter, Moa, in the octagon.

Mackenzie Dern is joined in the octagon by her daughter and hands over her strawweight title.

All worthwhile for moments like that.

Full post-fight quotes on the way.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Jandiroba was successful was nine of her 16 takedowns but did little to progress on the ground and didn't attempt a single submission.

Clearly the judges weren't too impressed with that.

It's a unanimous decision win for Mackenzie Dern.

The judges scored it 48-47 48-47 49-46.

Dern falls to the floor and is surrounded by her team.

Huge emotions.

This is close.

Decision on the way.