Aspinall in a photo shoot. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/tomaspinallofficial
Tom Aspinall 's journey as UFC heavyweight champion (up to 120,2 kg) was tortuous and has come to an end. On Monday morning (14), in England, the company's star, through an official statement, announced that he has decided to relinquish the category's belt. The Englishman last fought in October 2025, in a fight that ended in 'no contest' after receiving eye pokes applied by Ciryl Gane , which generates controversy to this day.
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On his official Instagram account, Aspinall issued a lengthy statement explaining the reason that led him to relinquish the heavyweight title and detailing his ordeal. It is worth noting that, due to the penalties committed by 'Bon Gamin' in the fight, the Englishman underwent numerous eye surgeries and is still not 100% recovered and, consequently, unable to return to fighting at a high level.
It's worth highlighting that Aspinall's journey to the top of the UFC heavyweight division was never easy. As the interim champion, a title he won in 2023, the Englishman waited a long time for Jon Jones , the undisputed champion, to agree to fight him, something that never happened. Therefore, after 'Bones' announced his retirement, the athlete assumed the undisputed title in 2025. However, Tom suffered more than he enjoyed his reign.
After being hampered by the Frenchman's eye pokes, the fighter saw many, including Dana White, question his eye injuries, even after presenting medical exams showing the severity of his condition. Aware that the show must go on and thinking of the other competitors, Aspinall decided to relinquish the belt on his own accord. Now, the Englishman is focused solely on his full recovery.
“Anything you read in the media is just noise. People are creating their own narratives. This is the truth: ongoing complications with my eyes prevent me from receiving medical clearance to fight at this time. I have undergone numerous surgeries, accidents, and infections, and I have done everything possible to return to competition.”
“I had already agreed to a date for the fight and was sparring again, feeling great and ready to compete, when an accident caused further damage to my right eye. This means more time away from the sport and, at the moment, the date of my return is unclear. I know there have been questions about why I've been silent.”
“I always followed the UFC’s advice and focused on my recovery while we tried to make this happen. I decided to relinquish the heavyweight title. I asked the UFC for permission to make this announcement because I don’t want to hold up the division. I know what it’s like to have your career stalled and I want other fighters to have the opportunity to compete for the title.”
“The UFC and Hunter were informed of every step of the process and had access to the exams, procedures, and medical information regarding my eyes. We worked closely with several doctors and specialists to try to make my return possible, but unfortunately, that is simply not possible at the moment. Thank you to everyone who supported me during this absolute nightmare.”
Remember Aspinall's last fight?
The highly anticipated fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane took place in October 2025 in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and ended in a 'no contest' (no result). In the very first round, the UFC heavyweight champion was poked in the eyes and gave up the fight because he couldn't see.
After the fight, the Englishman was diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown's syndrome, a condition that restricts eye movement. The injury was so severe that the athlete underwent surgery on both eyes.
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