Tom Aspinall has vacated the UFC heavyweight championship because of continuing eye complications, leaving interim champion Ciryl Gane waiting for the promotion’s decision on who will hold the undisputed belt.
The unusual part of the story is how the championship may change hands. Aspinall’s only defence as undisputed champion ended in a no contest after Gane accidentally poked him in both eyes at UFC 321 in October 2025. Less than a year later, Gane could inherit the title that was not settled in their fight.
As of Monday, September 14, the UFC had not publicly confirmed whether Gane would be promoted automatically or asked to contest the vacant championship.
Gane currently holds the interim heavyweight belt after stopping Alex Pereira in the second round at UFC Freedom 250 in June. Both The Independent and Fox Sports Australia reported that the French fighter is expected to be elevated, but an expectation is not an official championship announcement.
Aspinall was already preparing to return
Aspinall revealed that his recovery had advanced much further than previously understood. The 33-year-old had accepted a fight date, returned to sparring and believed he was ready to compete. An unspecified accident then caused fresh damage to his right eye, making the timing of his return unclear.
He did not reveal how the latest accident occurred, when his planned fight would have taken place or who he had agreed to face. Those unanswered questions are important because a rematch with Gane had appeared to be the natural title-unification fight.
“Ongoing eye complications mean I cannot get cleared to fight right now,” Aspinall said in his statement.
He said his recovery involved multiple surgeries, infections and consultations with different specialists. Aspinall also confirmed that UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell had been shown the relevant tests, procedures and medical information.
The original injury occurred when Gane’s fingers entered both of Aspinall’s eyes during their UFC 321 main event in Abu Dhabi. The referee ruled the fouls accidental, meaning the contest was recorded as a no contest rather than a disqualification. Gane apologised immediately afterward, saying: “I’m very sorry about this.”
Aspinall was later diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome, a rare condition that can restrict eye movement and cause double vision. The case has renewed questions about eye-poke enforcement and fighter protection, part of the wider debate around how combat-sports officials balance safety and competition.
Will Ciryl Gane become champion automatically?
Promoting Gane would follow a recent UFC precedent. Aspinall himself became undisputed champion when Jon Jones retired in June 2025, having previously held and defended the interim belt. Gane is now in a similar position as the recognised interim champion.
The UFC could instead order Gane to fight another leading contender for the vacant championship. Alexander Volkov and Sergei Pavlovich remain established heavyweight names, while Pereira has publicly pushed for another opportunity following his loss to Gane. No matchup has been announced.
Aspinall’s undisputed reign therefore ends without a completed fight. He captured the interim championship by knocking out Pavlovich in November 2023 and defended it against Curtis Blaydes in July 2024, but his first appearance after being promoted to undisputed champion ended with the Gane no contest.
“I am absolutely gutted,” Aspinall said, before adding: “I am not done.”
He stressed that relinquishing the championship does not mean retirement. His immediate priority is securing medical clearance, while Gane and the rest of the heavyweight division await the UFC’s decision.
This report will be updated when the UFC confirms whether Ciryl Gane has been promoted or must fight for the vacant heavyweight championship.
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