TOM ASPINALL OFFICIALLY VACATES UFC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE DUE TO ONGOING EYE INJURIES

TOMASPINALLOFFICIAL ON INSTAGRAM

UFC star Tom Aspinall has officially vacated the UFC heavyweight championship due to ongoing issues with his eyes.

Ever since UFC 321 almost a year ago, Tom Aspinall has been dealing with severe injuries to his eyes as a result of pokes from Ciryl Gane. While he has been on the road to recovery and seemed to be showing progress, we now know that he will be unable to defend the belt at any point in the near future.

Tom Aspinall is one of the most exceptionally talented heavyweights we have seen in recent memory, but off the back of what happened against Gane, we may never get to see what he could really accomplish inside the Octagon.

In a recent Instagram post, after recent suggestions from Dana White that he could be stripped, Tom Aspinall announced that he will be relinquishing the gold.

TOM ASPINALL VACATES UFC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

“Anything you read in the media is simply noise. People are creating their own narratives. This is the truth:

Ongoing complications with my eyes mean I cannot get medically cleared to fight right now.

I’ve had multiple surgeries, accidents and infections, and done everything possible to get back to competing.

I had previously agreed to a fight date and was back sparring, 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 right now, the timing of my return is unclear.

I know there have been questions about why I’ve been quiet. I’ve always followed the advice of the UFC and focused on my recovery while we’ve tried to make this happen.

I’ve now made the decision to vacate the heavyweight title. I’ve asked the UFC to allow me to make this statement because I don’t want to hold the heavyweight division up. I know what it’s like to have your career put on hold and I want the other fighters to have the opportunity to compete for the title.

The UFC and Hunter have been informed every step of the way and have seen the tests, procedures and medical information relating to my eyes. We have worked closely with different doctors and specialists to try and make my return happen, but unfortunately, it’s simply not possible right now.

I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve chased this dream since I was 10 years old.

I’m not done.

Stepping away from the title is not stepping away from the sport or the dream. I’ll continue doing everything I can to get healthy, get cleared and get back to competing as soon as possible.

What makes this particularly difficult is that many of the complications I’m dealing with are a result of fouls that changed the course of my career. Fighters rely on officials to enforce the rules and protect us in those moments, and it’s hard to still be dealing with the consequences today.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this absolute nightmare.

I’ll be back as soon as I’m medically able to be.

Tom”

What title fight do you want to see next? Let us know in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

- Harry Kettle

JON JONES CALL'S TOM ASPINALL'S WRESTLING AND JIU-JITSU 'INCREDIBLY OVERRATED' AFTER UFC 321

Former UFC champion Jon Jones gives a blunt breakdown of Tom Aspinall’s performance against Ciryl Gane, questioning key parts of the heavyweight’s skill set.

Jon Jones - Image credit @UFC X.com @noscripts.podcast Instagram

Jon Jones had a few sharp observations after watching the UFC 321 main event in Abu Dhabi, where Tom Aspinall defended his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane.

The bout ended early after Gane’s accidental eye poke forced officials to stop the fight, leaving fans without a clear result. Even so, Jones said he saw enough to form a harsh opinion on the reigning champion’s overall skill set.

Jones Gives His Take

During an episode of the No Scripts podcast, the former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion broke down what he noticed in the short exchange between the two contenders.

“Tom’s a great athlete, but I do feel like he’s a one-trick pony,” Jones said. “I believe that his wrestling and jiu-jitsu is incredibly overrated. He has a beautiful one-two… that’s really about it.”

Jones added that Gane appeared to be finding his rhythm before the fight ended.

“He couldn’t touch Ciryl Gane at all,” Jones continued. “That’s the way I felt. I feel like Gane was just getting warmed up.”

Jon Jones reacts to Tom Aspinall’s performance against Ciryl Gane 👀

“I believe [Tom’s] wrestling and jiu jitsu is incredibly overrated. I got to learn a lot about his patterns in his last fight. Beautiful 1-2, but that’s really about it. He couldn’t touch Ciryl Gane.”

(via… pic.twitter.com/E4tB2OcgBA

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 6, 2025

The two heavyweights have had friction before. Aspinall once accused Jones of avoiding him before the former champion vacated the belt and stepped away from competition. Jones’ latest comments only add to the ongoing tension between the pair.

After the no-contest, Dana White said a rematch between Aspinall and Gane is likely next. Some viewers thought Gane looked sharp before the stoppage, giving the rematch added intrigue.

Aspinall will now aim to deliver a complete performance that could quiet his critics — including Jones — and show that his grappling game deserves more credit.

- Jake Blend

TOM ASPINALL INSTALLED AS UFC CHAMPION AFTER JON JONES CONFIRMS RETIREMENT

Britain’s Tom Aspinall has been upgraded to UFC undisputed heavyweight champion following the official retirement of Jon Jones.

UFC president Dana White ended months of uncertainty in the heavyweight division by delivering the news after Saturday’s Fight Night in Azerbaijan.

Aspinall spent 19 months as interim champion and is only the third Briton to become a UFC champion.

American Jones – considered one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time – had not competed since defeating Stipe Miocic in November.

“Jon Jones called us last night and retired,” White said.

“Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.

“Do I regret the time that I gave (Jones to decide)? Listen, if you look at what he’s accomplished in the sport, no.”

Aspinall had unsuccessfully campaigned to fight 37-year-old Jones.

Reacting to the news, the 32-year-old, who last fought in July, posted on Instagram: “For you fans, it’s time to get this heavyweight division going. An active undisputed champion.”

Aspinall is expected to defend his title this summer or in early autumn, with number-one contender Ciryl Gane a likely opponent.

“I obviously feel bad for Tom that he lost all that time and obviously money, but we’ll make it up to him,” said White.

“Tom Aspinall’s a good guy. He’s been incredible through this whole process.

“He’s been willing to do anything, fight him (Jones) anywhere at any time and do this, and now he’s like ‘I’ll fight anybody – you tell me who and I’ll fight them’.”

- PA

TOM ASPINALL SENDS MESSAGE TO JON JONES AFTER SENSATIONAL 60-SECOND KO AT UFC 304

Aspinall scored another blistering stoppage winCredit: Getty

Tom Aspinall has predicted his winner for Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic and revealed remarkable plans for his post-UFC endeavours.

Aspinall is the UFC’s interim heavyweight champion, which he claimed by overcoming Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023.

Many felt Aspinall should have been squaring off with full heavyweight champion Jon Jones next.

But instead 'Bones' is expected to duke it out with Stipe Miocic at the back end of this year.

Taking to the mic in the immediate aftermath of his statement victory, Aspinall sent a message to his rival.

"Hello Jon, I have nothing against you personally," he said.

"But I just think I'm better than you. I just know I can beat you fight in a fight, so I'm coming for you."

In beating Blaydes, Aspinall avenged the only loss of his UFC career.

The Brit blew out his knee in the opening 15 seconds of their inaugural encounter back in July 2022, resulting in an inconclusive TKO loss.

He will now wait for his opportunity to fight the winner of Jones vs Miocic, which is reportedly taking place in November.

Aspinall has been campaigning relentlessly for a fight with Jones since winning the interim crown against Sergei Pavlovich last November.

Growing frustrated by a relative newcomer repeatedly calling him out, Jones took to social media in January to rip into Aspinall’s record.

“Only four recognisable opponents, and already the king of England, must be nice," he tweeted.

"There will be legendary tales told about you and your infamous call outs.

“I was a champion when I was 23 years old, you can’t show up at age 30 pretending like you’ve been chasing me your whole life.

"I have no clue who 90 per cent of his résumé is, meanwhile, I’ve been highlighting UFC events my entire career.

“It’s a wild world we live in! People can be so quick to try to replace you, throw you away, discredit your work.

"That’s the best thing about them stats or just being able to see the fruits of your labor.

“Be an absolute savage at what you do, at whatever capacity that may be.

"Let the work speak for itself, be undeniable in this world ladies and gentlemen. Be absolutely undeniable.”

Provided Jones comes out unscathed against Miocic, we could finally see him take on Aspinall in 2025.

- George Glinski

ASPINALL KO'S TYBURA, SETS SIGHT ON UFC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

Reuters 

British heavyweight Tom Aspinall made a triumphant return to MMA with a devastating first-round knockout of Marcin Tybura in the main event of Saturday's UFC Fight Night at the O2 Arena, almost a year to the day after tearing his MCL.

Aspinall's last visit to the octagon ended after just 15 seconds of his bout against Curtis Blaydes as his knee gave out, and he almost brought his comeback fight to a close at the same mark with a head kick that wobbled his Polish opponent.