In a heated exchange of words, UFC heavyweights Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane have engaged in a war of words over a failed interim title fight. The tension between the two fighters has been brewing for years, but it recently reached a boiling point when Aspinall accused Gane of turning down the opportunity to challenge for his interim heavyweight title on July 27 at UFC 304, opting instead to film a movie.

Gane, however, responded to Aspinall's claims during a recent Twitch stream, stating that Aspinall only accepts his fights when Gane is unable to compete. Gane emphasized that he has previously called out Aspinall on social media platforms, but now that Aspinall is ranked above him, he is refusing to fight. Despite the verbal jabs, Gane expressed confidence that they will eventually face off.

Aspinall, who is set to defend his interim belt in a rematch against Curtis Blaydes in UFC 304's co-main event, brushed off Gane's comments when questioned about them on The MMA Hour. He disputed Gane's portrayal, asserting that the UFC originally wanted him to fight Gane, but Gane declined the opportunity. Aspinall acknowledged that Gane has other commitments, such as his acting career, and respected his choices but clarified that fighting is his primary focus.

Ranked as MMA Fighting's No. 1 heavyweight and No. 12 pound-for-pound fighter, Aspinall holds an impressive UFC record with devastating wins over respected opponents. His only loss came in a short-lived bout against Blaydes due to a knee injury.

Aspinall further revealed that Gane has previously turned down fights against other top contenders, including Pavlovich and Blaydes. Aspinall argued that Gane's dismissals are well-documented and that he himself has been eager to face Gane for years.

Meanwhile, Gane is currently scheduled to fight Alexander Volkov in a rematch at UFC 308 on October 26. With this rematch on the horizon and Aspinall focused on defending his interim title against Blaydes, the Englishman expressed his lack of interest in dwelling on Gane's decisions and whims.

Aspinall emphasized his passion for fighting and his desire to step into the cage against any top-level opponent. He expressed that his goal is to continue amassing wins and earning money while he is still an active fighter.

The ongoing animosity between Aspinall and Gane underscores their clash of ambitions and serves as a testament to their competitive spirits. Whether the two heavyweights will eventually meet in the octagon remains to be seen, but their exchanges have certainly added fuel to the fire of their potential future showdown.