Tom Aspinall Vacates UFC Heavyweight Title Following Eye Injury Setbacks
Tom Aspinall has vacated his UFC heavyweight championship due to recovery setbacks from eye surgeries. The move leaves interim champion Ciryl Gane and former title challenger Alex Pereira at the center of the division's title picture.
· VILLAND PICK editorial
Tom Aspinall announced on Monday that he is vacating his UFC heavyweight championship. The decision comes after the champion suffered a setback in his recovery following multiple surgeries to repair eye damage sustained in a 2025 bout against Ciryl Gane, bringing a heartbreaking halt to his undisputed title reign.
With Aspinall stepping aside, the heavyweight division faces immediate questions regarding the undisputed title. Gane currently holds the interim championship after defeating Alex Pereira at the UFC White House card in June. Following that loss, Pereira criticized referee Herb Dean for not penalizing Gane during the fight and has actively campaigned for a rematch.
MMA veteran Matt Brown weighed in on the situation, noting that while Gane could simply be elevated to undisputed champion, a rematch with Pereira carries high stakes. Brown, who picked Gane to win their first fight and favors him again in a potential return bout, warned that a second loss could damage Pereira's standing for future marquee matchups. Brown also highlighted other names in the division, including newcomer Gable Steveson and the undefeated Josh Hokit, whom Brown noted possesses a challenging style for top contenders like Pereira and Gane.
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