MMA
Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title after suffering further eye damage
Watch MMA on DAZN for free
Tom Aspinall has vacated the UFC heavyweight title after suffering further damage to his injured eye.
The British heavyweight has been sidelined since his fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025 ended in a no contest following accidental eye pokes.
Aspinall has undergone multiple procedures since the fight and had been working towards a return, but another setback in training has left his comeback date unclear.
Why has Tom Aspinall vacated the UFC heavyweight title?
Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images
Aspinall confirmed that he has relinquished the heavyweight championship because of the ongoing problems with his eyes.
The 33-year-old had returned to training and sparring as part of his recovery, but revealed that an accident caused further damage to his right eye.
With no clear timeline for when he will be medically cleared to fight again, Aspinall has chosen to vacate the title rather than leave the heavyweight division waiting for his return.
He said he was “absolutely gutted” by the decision, but stressed that he is not retiring and still intends to return to competition once his health allows. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
What happened to Tom Aspinall's eye?
Aspinall's injury problems began during his title fight against Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025.
The bout was stopped in the opening round after Aspinall was poked in both eyes and was unable to continue, resulting in a no contest.
He was subsequently diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown's syndrome and underwent surgery on both eyes as he attempted to recover from the damage.
Aspinall had made progress and returned to sparring before the latest accident caused another setback to his right eye. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
When did Tom Aspinall become UFC heavyweight champion?
Aspinall became the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion in 2025 following the retirement of former champion Jon Jones.
The Briton had previously held the interim heavyweight title before being elevated to undisputed champion.
His fight against Gane was his first defence of the undisputed championship, but the bout ended without a winner because of the eye pokes.
Who could become the next UFC heavyweight champion?
(UFC)
Aspinall's decision leaves the UFC with a major decision to make at the top of the heavyweight division.
Ciryl Gane currently holds the interim heavyweight championship and is therefore firmly in the picture to become the next undisputed champion.
The Frenchman won the interim title against Alex Pereira, who has since called for a rematch, while other leading heavyweight contenders could also enter the discussion for the vacant championship.
The UFC has yet to confirm how the undisputed heavyweight title will be decided.
Watch MMA on DAZN for free
MMA fans can watch a growing selection of live events for free on DAZN, with promotions from around the world available on the platform.
- Gamebred FC — Jorge Masvidal's bare-knuckle MMA promotion features full MMA rules without gloves.
- BRAVE CF — Global MMA promotion bringing together established international fighters and emerging prospects.
- FightStar Championship — British MMA promotion showcasing some of the UK's leading fighters and rising talent.
- OKTAGON MMA — One of Europe's leading MMA promotions, featuring major events and some of the continent's top fighters.
- EFC — Africa's leading MMA promotion, showcasing top fighters and emerging talent from across the continent and beyond.
