Overview
- Aspinall announced on Monday that persistent complications from eye injuries, multiple surgeries, infections and a training accident mean he cannot be medically cleared to fight and so he has vacated the heavyweight title.
- The damage traces to a double eye poke by Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025 that ended their fight in a no contest and led to a diagnosis of bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome and repeated corrective procedures.
- Ciryl Gane won the interim heavyweight belt in June by stopping Alex Pereira and now stands as the most likely candidate to be elevated to undisputed champion or to fight for the vacant title against another top contender.
- UFC officials signaled they would discuss Aspinall’s status days ago, but the champion’s statement removes that uncertainty and hands matchmaking and athletic‑commission clearance questions to the promotion and regulators.
- Aspinall said he is not retiring and will continue treatment and testing with the aim of returning when cleared while the decision highlights how in‑fight fouls, medical clearance and promoter and commission processes can alter fighters’ careers.