The division’s top spot could soon be vacated by Tom Aspinall, potentially ending his championship run without a loss in the Octagon.
Initially, Aspinall asserted his readiness to compete, stating that his next matchup was entirely in the hands of the UFC administration. However, Matchroom Talent Agency’s Eddie Hearn, who represents Aspinall, lately disclosed that the heavyweight champion must complete additional medical evaluations on his eyes before getting cleared to fight again.
Following a double eye poke during his October 2025 bout with Ciryl Gane, the titleholder required several surgical procedures. As uncertainty looms over Aspinall’s availability, UFC CEO Dana White shed light on the situation at the post-fight media session for Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn. White indicated that stripping Aspinall of the heavyweight strap remains a distinct possibility, according to reports from MMAJunkie.
“That conversation [about Aspinall giving up the title] is certainly on the table,” White remarked. “It is a similar situation to Valentina [Shevchenko] not wanting to hold up her division. I expect Tom shares that sentiment. While I am not fully aware of his current medical recovery status, we expect to have more clarity on the matter shortly.”
Meanwhile, Gane claimed the interim belt by securing a second-round TKO victory over Alex Pereira in the co-headline bout of UFC Freedom 250. Given the question marks around Aspinall, Pereira has campaigned for a second shot at Gane. However, a potential sequel between Gane and Pereira has faced pushback from critics like Henry Cejudo, who argues that a fight pitting “Poatan” against Josh Hokit is a far better option.
Recently, White dismissed rumors of friction with Aspinall over the champion’s decision to work with Hearn, a competing promoter. The UFC executive had hoped Aspinall would be fit to compete, but those plans seem to be on hold for the moment. We will provide updates on the promotion’s strategy for the heavyweight division as fresh information becomes available.
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This story was originally published on BJPENN.COM
