Tom Aspinall Vacates UFC Heavyweight Title Amid Eye Complications

Tom Aspinall (15-3) has vacated his UFC heavyweight title after failing to receive medical clearance due to multiple eye surgeries and a recent training accident.

Tom Aspinall (15-3) has officially vacated his UFC heavyweight title following "ongoing complications" from eye injuries that have prevented him from gaining medical clearance. The 33-year-old Briton confirmed the decision on social media Monday, stating he did not want to hold up the division while his return timeline remains unclear. Aspinall has not competed since his October bout against Ciryl Gane was ruled a no contest in the first round after he was poked in the eyes.

The former champion has undergone multiple surgeries, treated various infections, and dealt with several accidents in both eyes since the Gane fight. Although he had recently returned to sparring and agreed to a new fight date, a subsequent training accident caused further damage to his right eye. Aspinall noted that he had previously been working toward a rematch in Paris against Gane, who recently defeated Alex Pereira.

Despite stepping away from the championship, Aspinall emphasized that he is not retiring from MMA. He stated that he worked with various specialists to attempt a return but ultimately followed medical advice to remain sidelined for the foreseeable future. The fighter indicated he will continue rehabilitation to eventually get healthy and cleared for competition.