UFC Heavyweight Champ Tom Aspinall Return Update

There are still obstacles Tom Aspinall (15-3) needs to clear before the UFC heavyweight champion can return to the Octagon, his manager, Eddie Hearn, said.

Aspinall has not competed since suffering an eye injury during a title defense against Ciryl Gane (14-2) at UFC 321 on October 25, 2025. The bout ended anticlimactically in the first round, and was ruled a No Contest, after Gane’s eye pokes left Aspinall unable to continue. The British heavyweight was later diagnosed with a rare condition — persistent double vision.

In his time away from competition, Gane defeated Alex Pereira on June 14 to win the interim heavyweight title. Aspinall, meanwhile, signed a managerial deal with Hearn and the Matchroom Talent Agency.

Hearn said this week that, while Aspinall is training, any comeback to the UFC hinges on whether the commission will clear him because of the injuries.

“He’s motivated, and I can’t give you an exact date yet, but what I can tell you is he wants to get back in there as soon as he is physically able to do so,” Hearn said. “He’s gonna have to go through some additional testing to make sure he’s good to return, but he wants to fight … He’s a fighter. So it’s been very frustrating for him, but he’ll be back.”

It is expected Aspinall will return against Gane in a heavyweight championship unification.