Ciryl Gane has two former champions in his corner.
Gane was recently elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion with Tom Aspinall sidelined. That decision drew plenty of criticism, since Aspinall’s injury came from Gane’s eye poke at UFC 321 in October 2025. The fight ended in a no-contest, and Aspinall has since had multiple eye surgeries.
On Dominick Cruz’s Love & War podcast, Cruz and T.J. Dillashaw pushed back on the idea that Gane is a cheater.
I always say this, this is my take on Ciryl Gane poking eyes. I haven’t had a lot of eye pokes in my career, I haven’t had a lot of groin shots in my career.
“Because you don’t stand in front of someone,” Dillashaw added.
Nailed it. I always said if you can poke me in my f—ing eye, I’m doing something wrong.
Gane’s win over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 added fuel to the debate. Gane hurt Pereira with a clean punch, but he landed a few illegal shots to the back of the head in the finishing flurry. Pereira has blamed referee Herb Dean for not stepping in.
Dillashaw thinks the backlash is mostly about perception.
I don’t think he is [a cheater]. It’s gotten blown out of the water since the Pereira fight. Obviously, everyone’s a Pereira fan and they wanted him to win and they want to call the illegal blows. He wasn’t going for it on purpose and Pereira’s moving his head as he’s hitting those. I think Herb Dean’s unfortunately catching a lot of flack as well, too.
It’s so crazy to go to a fight and everyone boo Herb Dean. I feel bad for the guy. I don’t think [Gane] is a purposeful cheater at all.
