The atmosphere at UFC 321’s ceremonial weigh-ins in Abu Dhabi hit a fever pitch Friday night as heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and challenger Ciryl Gane came face-to-face for the final time before fight night.

Both fighters appeared in peak form — and neither blinked during a tense staredown that drew cheers from the packed crowd and the watchful approval of UFC president Dana White, who stood between them.

Aspinall, tipping the scales at 255 pounds, looked noticeably stronger than in his previous title defense. Gane came in at 247, lean and calm, wearing his trademark smirk as the two exchanged a few quiet words before breaking away.

“Tomorrow, you’re going to see something special,” Aspinall told fans after the face-off, his tone calm but confident. “I’m here to prove why I’m the best heavyweight in the world — and I’m just getting started.”

Gane, meanwhile, kept his response short but sharp: “I’m ready. Always ready. Let’s go.”

The encounter capped off a week of growing tension between the two men. While both have maintained mutual respect, there’s an underlying edge — Aspinall representing the new generation of power and precision, and Gane fighting to reclaim his standing after setbacks in previous title fights.

As the crowd roared, White praised both fighters for their professionalism, calling the bout “the best heavyweight matchup the sport can offer right now.”

The stage is now set for what could be one of the most technically polished heavyweight title fights in recent memory. With both men in their primes and the division on the rise again, all eyes turn to the Octagon — where words will give way to fists, and one man will walk out with gold.