The Aporia · Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title due to eye injury

Tom Aspinall, the UFC heavyweight champion, has vacated his title due to persistent issues with an eye injury sustained during a bout against Ciryl Gane in October 2023. Aspinall had planned to return but suffered further damage to his right eye recently, pushing back his comeback timeline indefinitely. The British fighter's decision allows Gane, who holds the interim heavyweight title, to be elevated to undisputed champion status.

Written by AI on 2026-09-14, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Tom Aspinall, the UFC heavyweight champion, vacated his title due to ongoing complications from an eye injury sustained during a fight with Ciryl Gane in Abu Dhabi last October. The injury forced the cancellation of their bout after the first round when Aspinall couldn't continue. Since then, he has undergone multiple surgeries and was initially set to return but suffered another accident that caused more damage to his right eye while sparring. Aspinall decided to give up the title rather than delay the division's fights while recovering. He stated on Instagram that the timing of his return remains unclear.

Written for “UFC Heavyweight Title Vacated” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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UFC mixed martial arts heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has vacated his title after suffering ongoing complications from an eye injury sustained during his bout with Ciryl Gane last year, the British fighter said. asserted

fighter → vacate → Gane

“I had previously agreed to a fight date and was back sparring, feeling great and ready to compete when an accident caused further damage to my right eye,” Aspinall wrote on Instagram on Monday. asserted

Aspinall → agree → Monday

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Plessis → win → 4UFC

Conor McGregor calls for ‘Last Dance’ vs Max Holloway in 2027 “This means more time away from the sport, and right now, the timing of my return is unclear.” uncertain

timing → call → return

The 33-year-old has undergone multiple surgeries since receiving severe eye pokes in his title defence against Gane in Abu Dhabi in October last year. asserted

old → undergo → October

The contest was ruled a first-round no-contest after Aspinall was unable to continue. asserted

Aspinall → rule → ?

Aspinall said he had decided to relinquish the belt rather than delay the division while he recovers. asserted

he → say → division

His departure clears the way for Ciryl Gane, who captured the interim heavyweight title with a victory over Alex Pereira in June, to be elevated to undisputed champion. asserted

who → clear → champion

Despite vacating the belt, Aspinall stressed that he was not retiring and remains determined to compete again. asserted

he → vacate → belt

“Stepping away from the title is not stepping away from the sport or the dream,” he wrote. asserted

he → step → sport

“I’ll continue doing everything I can to get healthy, get cleared and get back to competing as soon as possible.” asserted

I → continue → everything

Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title due to eye injury

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