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Tom Aspinall remains sidelined due to serious vision problems. Dana White cannot even give a rough estimate of when the UFC champion will return and makes it clear that the organization does not intend to wait indefinitely for the Englishman.
The UFC heavyweight champion has been inactive since last year’s UFC 321. During his bout against Ciryl Gane, the Frenchman accidentally poked Aspinall in the eyes with his fingers several times. Just a few minutes into the fight, the British fighter was unable to continue, and the bout was ruled a no contest. As a result, Aspinall retained his championship belt under exceptionally unfortunate circumstances.
Since then, the fighter’s health issues have proven to be much more serious than initially thought. Aspinall has undergone several eye surgeries aimed at restoring full vision in both eyes, and he still has not received medical clearance to return to the Octagon.
In his absence, the situation in the royal division had changed. Gane claimed the interim championship belt after defeating former two-weight-class champion Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June.
Shortly after UFC 321, Aspinall made no secret of his dissatisfaction with Dana White’s initial reaction to his injury. The UFC president later clarified his position, however, noting that he didn’t think the Englishman was trying to find an easy way out of the fight, and wished him a speedy recovery.
It has been almost a year since Aspinall’s ill-fated bout with Gane. In the meantime, the British boxer has added Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn to his management team; Hearn has long had a tense relationship with White in the boxing business.
The champion’s health, however, remains the most pressing concern. It is still unclear when Aspinall will be able to resume full training, let alone compete in his next fight.
During one of his recent post-event press conferences, White was asked about the Englishman’s future and a possible date for his return.
“Tom Aspinall is injured. Until we hear otherwise, the heavyweight division will just carry on as usual,” White said.
The UFC president did not reveal what plans the organization has for Ciryl Gane. It is unclear whether the interim champion will face another opponent while Aspinall is out, or whether the UFC will decide to wait for an opportunity to stage a unification bout.
The British fighter’s prolonged absence is yet another problem for the heavyweight division, which hasn’t had an easy time of it in recent years. After Jon Jones’s unexpected retirement in 2025, Aspinall became the undisputed champion of the division, but injuries have once again stalled the situation at the top.
At this point, one thing seems certain— the UFC has no intention of putting the heavyweight division on hold until Aspinall returns, and the champion’s continued absence could lead to further major decisions regarding the title and Ciryl Gane’s future.
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