Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title after eye injury
Tom Aspinall has vacated the UFC heavyweight championship after suffering further complications from an ongoing right-eye injury. The 33-year-old fighter announced the decision on Instagram, saying another accident caused additional damage while he was preparing for his return. Aspinall said he had already agreed to a fight date and resumed sparring before the latest setback. […]
Tom Aspinall, a 33-year-old British fighter, has relinquished his UFC heavyweight title due to complications in his recovery from an eye injury. Since his October 2025 first defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest due to eye pokes, Aspinall has dealt with a rare eye condition, persistent double vision, and multiple surgeries.
The fighter expressed disappointment in a statement, acknowledging the dream he pursued since he was ten years old. He stated his desire for other fighters to have the opportunity to compete for the title. Initially, Aspinall had planned to return to full training for a rematch with France's Gane, potentially in September. However, in August, he denied reports suggesting he would leave the UFC.
UFC president Dana White suggested Aspinall might be stripped of the title. Notably, Valentina Shevchenko vacated the women's flyweight title due to persistent injuries. Gane had previously defeated Alex Pereira to win the interim heavyweight title in June, subsequently demanding a rematch with Aspinall.
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- Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title bbc.co.uk
- Josh Hokit calls for UFC Heavyweight title fight with Ciryl Gane timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title due to eye injury aljazeera.com
- Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title amid ongoing eye issues channelnewsasia.com
