Tom Aspinall (15-3, 1 NC) has vacated the UFC heavyweight championship. He said ongoing problems with his eyes continue to prevent him from being medically cleared to fight.
Aspinall has been sidelined since his title defense against Ciryl Gane (14-2, 1 NC) at UFC 321 on October 25, 2025, ended in a no contest after an eye poke left the British heavyweight unable to continue. He subsequently underwent multiple surgeries on his eyes.
The 33-year-old had since agreed to a return date and resumed sparring, but revealed Monday that another accident caused further damage to his right eye and left his comeback without a timetable.
“I’ve now made the decision to vacate the heavyweight title,” Aspinall said. “I’ve asked the UFC to allow me to make this statement because I don’t want to hold the heavyweight division up.”
Aspinall won the interim championship by stopping Sergei Pavlovich in November 2023 and defended it against Curtis Blaydes in July 2024. The UFC elevated him to undisputed champion following Jon Jones’ retirement in June 2025.
Despite relinquishing the championship, Aspinall made clear he does not consider his combat sport career over. “I’m not done,” he said.
The immediate future of the vacant title will likely involve Gane. The French fighter won the interim title on June 14, scoring a second-round technical knockout over Alex Pereira at the White House in Washington, D.C. The UFC could elevate Gane from interim to undisputed champion, as it did with Aspinall, or match him with a ranked contender for the vacant title.