# Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title, Ciryl Gane set to be undisputed champion

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/mma/tom-aspinall-vacates-ufc-heavyweight-title-ciryl-gane-set-to-be-undisputed-champ)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 15 Sept 2026
Updated: 15 Sept 2026
Retrieved: 15 Sept 2026

> Eye damage from UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi and a sparring accident have kept Aspinall out for almost a year. He is not retiring, but the belt moves on.

Tom Aspinall has given up the **UFC heavyweight title** without losing it in the cage. The Englishman announced on **14 September** that he is vacating the belt because he still cannot get medical clearance after repeated damage to his eyes. Interim champion **Ciryl Gane** is set to be elevated to undisputed champion.

## How it came to this

- **25 October 2025, UFC 321, Abu Dhabi:** Aspinall's first title defence against Gane was ruled a **first-round no contest** after Gane accidentally poked him in both eyes.
- **The months after:** Aspinall had several eye procedures.
- **This year:** with a fight date agreed and sparring going well, "an accident caused further damage to my right eye," he said, leading to more surgery and infections.
- **June 2026:** Gane won the interim title by beating **Alex Pereira**.

Aspinall said he did not want to hold the division up. He also made clear he is **not retiring**, but that the timing of his return is unclear.

## Who is next for Gane

The heavyweight line is already forming.

- **Josh Hokit** used the news to call for a shot at Gane, and said Pereira could have one too if he wins a fight at heavyweight first.
- **Alex Pereira** is also calling for a rematch with Gane.
- **Aspinall** himself would be the obvious challenger whenever he is cleared.

No date or opponent for Gane's first defence as undisputed champion had been announced when this was published.

## Why Pakistani fans should care

Abu Dhabi, where Aspinall was injured, is the closest regular UFC venue to Pakistan and a short flight from Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad. A heavyweight title fight booked for the Gulf would land in prime time here, since the UAE is only one hour behind Pakistan.

Heavyweight is the UFC's headline weight, and it has had no title defence since October 2025. Gane, a French striker, now gets the chance to be an active champion, which means more title fights worth staying up for.

## Coming up

The UFC calendar keeps moving while heavyweight settles:

- **19 September:** UFC 331, Van v Pantoja 2
- **26 September:** UFC Fight Night 289
- **3 October:** UFC 332, Silva v Wang
- **10 October:** UFC Fight Night 290
- **17 October:** UFC Fight Night 291

US-based cards usually start in the early hours of Sunday morning in Pakistan, so check local start times before you set an alarm.

If you pay for a streaming service in dollars, see what it costs in rupees today with our [currency converter](/tools/finance/currency-converter).

## Sources

- Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title due to eye injury (14 Sep 2026) (Al Jazeera): https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/14/tom-aspinall-vacates-ufc-heavyweight-title-due-to-eye-injury
- Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title amid ongoing eye issues (15 Sep 2026) (Sherdog): https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Tom-Aspinall-vacates-UFC-heavyweight-title-amid-ongoing-eye-issues-202801
- Tom Aspinall's UFC exit opens door for Josh Hokit's bold title demand (15 Sep 2026) (Sherdog): https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Tom-Aspinalls-UFC-exit-opens-door-for-Josh-Hokits-bold-title-demand-202803

How to cite: "Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title, Ciryl Gane set to be undisputed champion", Searchable, 15 Sept 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/mma/tom-aspinall-vacates-ufc-heavyweight-title-ciryl-gane-set-to-be-undisputed-champ