Jon Jones reveals how Ciryl Gane ‘intimidated’ him after first-round win, predicts Tom Aspinall rematch

Jon Jones’ former rival Ciryl Gane earned his respect in how he handled himself in the moments immediately after their UFC 285 fight.

Former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones won the heavyweight title by handing Ciryl Gane a humiliating defeat at UFC 285. Just seconds into their fight, Jones tapped Gane with a nasty guillotine choke to become the UFC’s latest ‘champ-champ’.

Fast forward to 2026, and Gane has earned his fourth undisputed heavyweight title shot after defeating Alex Pereira to win the interim belt at UFC Freedom 250. Gane is expected to face undisputed champion Tom Aspinall in a rematch later this year, after their first fight ended in a no-contest last year.

Jones will keep a keen eye on the Aspinall vs. Gane rematch as he continues to ponder another potential return to the Octagon. After stopping Gane at UFC 285, Jones was intimidated by his opponent.

Jon Jones shares ‘intimidating’ interaction with Ciryl Gane that earned his respect

In a recent interview with Ring Magazine, Jones predicted the Aspinall vs. Gane rematch and shared an eye-opening story about Gane’s competitiveness.

“I think Gane is going to win. When you become the champion, and you beat a man like Alex Pereira, it has to do something for your confidence,” Jones said of Gane.

“The night I fought him, we were backstage and talking with the doctor. He came in behind the curtain, came up in front of me…and at that moment he seemed so much bigger than just moments before [LAUGHS]. He looked me in the eye, shook my hand, and said, ‘I’ll be back. We’re going to do this again’. And he meant it! It taught me a lot about his character. He wasn’t mad, wasn’t bitter; he was a great sportsman, and he seemed more destined and determined than ever. To the point that it was slightly intimidating, because I just choked him out minutes ago, and he was looking like he was ready for Round 2.

“So I believed him when he said ‘I’ll be back’, and now he is back, just against different competition,” Jones continued on Gane. “He has my support, and I love the class that he carries. Great representative for France and for the UFC, and I hope he does really well for a really long time.”

What is your prediction for Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane 2? Let us know in the comments!