UFC President Dana White has indicated the organization may push Tom Aspinall to relinquish his heavyweight title as the British fighter approaches a full year without competition. Aspinall last competed in October 2025, when his title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest following a serious eye injury sustained during the bout.
The 33-year-old suffered repeated eye pokes from Gane that forced him to withdraw from the fight. Medical evaluation revealed a rare eye condition accompanied by persistent double vision, requiring surgical intervention. White acknowledged the organization would evaluate Aspinall’s current fitness level and competitive readiness in the coming weeks.
The UFC’s consideration mirrors a recent precedent set by women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, who vacated her title this month due to ongoing injury concerns. White noted that both fighters likely share similar motivations regarding preventing the division from stagnating without an active champion. Aspinall previously indicated in June that he had resumed full training and suggested a potential September rematch with Gane, though that timeline has not materialized.
Meanwhile, Gane has moved forward by capturing the interim heavyweight title in June, further complicating the championship landscape. The organization must soon resolve the status of Aspinall’s title to clarify the division’s path forward.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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