Tom Aspinall vacates UFC title after eye injury ends comeback bid
UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has given up his title. He has ongoing eye problems that prevent him from fighting.
Tom Aspinall is the UFC heavyweight champion. A rare eye condition left him unable to get medical clearance to fight, so he gave up his title.
The 33-year-old British fighter has not fought since October 2025, when Ciryl Gane poked him in both eyes during their UFC 321 match. Since then, Aspinall needed multiple surgeries and faced infections.
A recent accident caused fresh damage to his right eye and extended his recovery. On Instagram, Aspinall said he made this choice to avoid holding up the heavyweight division.
Ciryl Gane, the interim champion, is expected to get undisputed status. Aspinall says he is not done with the sport and will keep trying for his medical clearance.
- 33
- Age
- October 2025
- Last fight
- Ciryl Gane eye poke
- Eye injury cause
- Ciryl Gane
- Current interim champion
Why it mattersWhen a champion gives up his title, it reshapes the heavyweight division. It also shows how serious eye injuries can be in fighting, even after treatment.
AustraliaAustralian UFC fans watching the heavyweight title scene lose its reigning champion as the division moves forward with a new title fight setup.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 d ago
