Tom Aspinall has vacated the UFC heavyweight title after suffering further complications from an eye injury sustained during his fight with Ciryl Gane last year.
The British fighter said an accident caused additional damage to his right eye just as he was preparing to return to competition. “This means more time away from the sport, and right now, the timing of my return is unclear,” Aspinall wrote on Instagram.
The 33-year-old has undergone several operations since suffering severe eye pokes during his title defence against Gane in Abu Dhabi in October. The bout was declared a first-round no contest after Aspinall was unable to continue.
Aspinall said he had agreed to a fight date and had resumed sparring before the latest setback. He chose to relinquish the belt rather than leave the heavyweight division waiting while he recovers.
The decision allows Gane to be elevated to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion after he won the interim title by defeating Alex Pereira in June.
Aspinall stressed that vacating the title did not amount to retirement. “Stepping away from the title is not stepping away from the sport or the dream,” he said, adding that he would continue working to recover, receive medical clearance and return to competition.
