Overview
- Aspinall announced on Monday that he has formally relinquished the UFC heavyweight title because continued eye problems prevent him from being medically cleared to fight.
- He said the damage began with the double eye poke in his October 25, 2025 no‑contest with Ciryl Gane, that multiple surgeries followed, and that a training accident recently caused further right‑eye injury.
- Aspinall wrote that UFC executives including Hunter Campbell and his team at Matchroom were informed of his tests and treatment but that he decided to vacate so the division would not be held up.
- Ciryl Gane, who won the interim heavyweight belt in June, is widely expected to be elevated or to fight for the vacant title while the UFC finalizes matchmaking and an official announcement.
- The decision highlights medical and regulatory issues for fighters because Aspinall was diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome, must get commission clearance to return, and says unaddressed fouls from the Gane fight have had lasting career consequences.