UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall Vacates Title After Dana White Mentions Sorting Out the Division

Dana White and team needs to figure out the heavyweight division matchmaking after Tom Aspinall vacated his belt.

UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall Vacates Title After Dana White Mentions Sorting Out the Division

Tom Aspinall vacates title after Dana White promised to sort out the division (Image via MMA Fighting/CNN)

The UFC heavyweight division has become stagnant with less undisputed title fights each year compared to the other divisions. Tom Aspinall is still sidelined with an eye problem that he suffered at UFC 321 last year at the hands of Ciryl Gane.

UFC CEO Dana White doesn’t have the best of relationships with Aspinall. Next month, it will be a year since the British fighter last fought. Recently, Valentina Shevchenko vacated her flyweight title to not hold up her division. Her injury will take up to a year to heal.

White was asked about if Aspinall would do the same as Shevchenko did during the post-fight presser of Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn. The UFC CEO admitted that a decision would be made soon.

We’ll definitely be talking about that. And you know it’s one of those things like Valentina doesn’t want to tie up the division. And I’m assuming Tom feels the same way. I don’t know personally where he is health wise with everything. We should clear that up soon.

Dana White said

This year, Aspinall signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency to handle his commercial interests. Since then, Hearn has given updates on the UFC heavyweight champion. Aspinall had a double eye surgery, and it took him around six months to restart his training.

Recently, Hearn suggested that the British star may not compete in 2026 due to the complications surrounding his injury. Just one day after White’s comments, Aspinall vacated the title by releasing a statement on social media.

I’ve now made the decision to vacate the heavyweight title. I’ve asked the UFC to allow me to make this statement because I don’t want to hold the heavyweight division up. I know what it’s like to have your career put on hold and I want the other fighters to have the opportunity to compete for the title.

Tom Aspinall wrote on Instagram

Valentina Shevchenko vacating her title led to the promotion booking Natalia Silva vs Wang Cong for the undisputed flyweight title at UFC 332. Aspinall needed to vacate for the division to move on at the moment.

While he was sidelined, the UFC booked an interim title fight between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. Gane defeated ‘Poatan’ in the second round to capture the interim belt. The French star will now get promoted to the undisputed champion of the division.

Meanwhile, Aspinall also mentioned that it was not the end of the journey for him as he will work on one day getting clearance to compete. The division will now move on, but so many questions still remain.

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Alex Pereira wants to fight Ciryl Gane again after learning about the Tom Aspinall news

Aspinall vacating the belt means the promotion has a tough task ahead of them regarding what to do next in terms of matchmaking.

Right now, Gane will likely defend the belt once he gets promoted to undisputed champion status. Josh Hokit has much hype behind him at the moment. With Aspinall out, Hokit could insert himself into the title picture.

Alex Pereira wants to rematch Ciryl Gane after Tom Aspinall vacates title
Alex Pereira wants to rematch Ciryl Gane after Tom Aspinall vacates title (Image via UFC.com)

Meanwhile, Alex Pereira is also an option as his loss to Gane had a controversial ending. The finishing sequence saw Gane land shots to the back of Pereira’s head. Since then, ‘Poatan’ has called for a rematch, wanting to fight Gane again, but this time at MSG.

I think that’s the fight that makes sense. I really want it to work out, I want to win that third belt. I think I’ve done a lot of things in the UFC, and I think I deserve to have those options. I’d come back at Madison Square Garden, me and Ciryl Gane. If it were up to me, that’s what I’d choose

Alex Pereira told UFC Brasil

The fate of the heavyweight division will be sorted out by the next few weeks. However, it is unsure if Pereira gets to fight Gane again at the moment.

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