TOM ASPINALL VACATES UFC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE OVER EYE INJURY

Tom Aspinall has vacated the UFC heavyweight championship after being unable to secure medical clearance to fight, following a fresh problem with an eye injury. The British fighter announced the decision in a social media post, describing himself as "absolutely gutted". He said "I cannot get medically cleared to fight right now", according to reports of his statement. Aspinall has not competed since he sustained the eye injury in October, during a fight against Ciryl Gane, who holds the interim heavyweight title. He said a fight date had been set before the decision to step away became necessary.

Aspinall linked his continued absence to a series of medical setbacks since the original injury, citing multiple surgeries, accidents and infections. The October fight against Gane left him unable to defend his title in the period since, and the fresh complication has now forced him to give it up entirely rather than continue attempting to return. Gane has held the interim championship during Aspinall's time out of action. The exact nature of the eye injury and the infections that followed has not been detailed beyond Aspinall's own account.

The vacating of the title leaves the UFC heavyweight division without an undisputed champion, with Gane holding the interim belt. No announcement has been made on how or when the promotion will resolve the vacancy. Aspinall has not given a timeline for when he expects to be medically cleared to return to competition. His post did not rule out a future attempt to reclaim the title once cleared to fight again.