Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title due to eye injury

What the report says

Tom Aspinall has vacated the UFC heavyweight title after ongoing complications from an eye injury he says began during his bout with Ciryl Gane. According to Al Jazeera’s report, the British fighter said a recent accident caused further damage to his right eye while he was already back in training and preparing for a previously agreed fight date.

Aspinall, 33, underwent multiple surgeries after suffering severe eye pokes in his title defence against Gane in Abu Dhabi in October 2025. That fight was ruled a first-round no-contest because he could not continue. In his Instagram post, Aspinall said the latest setback would keep him away from competition longer and that his return timeline was now uncertain.

He said he chose to give up the belt rather than slow down the division while he recovered. The move opens the door for Gane, who had won the interim heavyweight title against Alex Pereira in June, to be elevated to undisputed champion. Aspinall emphasized that he is not retiring and still intends to come back once he is medically cleared.

The development matters because it reshapes the UFC heavyweight division and underscores how long-term injury complications can affect titleholder status and fight scheduling. More broadly, it reflects a common issue in combat sports, where injuries can alter championship paths even when an athlete remains active in the sport.