Tom Aspinall Vacates UFC Heavyweight Title After 2 Eye Surgeries and New Damage
Updated
Updated · Bleacher Report · Sep 14
Tom Aspinall Vacates UFC Heavyweight Title After 2 Eye Surgeries and New Damage
3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Sep 14
Summary
Tom Aspinall said Monday he gave up the UFC heavyweight belt because ongoing eye complications worsened after a new accident damaged his right eye during a return to sparring.
The 33-year-old said his comeback timetable is now unclear, and he chose to vacate rather than keep the division frozen while he undergoes more time away from the sport.
That setback extends an injury saga that began at UFC 321 last October, when Aspinall's fight with Ciryl Gane ended in a no contest after an accidental eye poke; he later underwent double eye surgery.
Ciryl Gane, who beat Alex Pereira in June to win the interim title, could now be elevated to undisputed champion as the UFC decides how to settle the belt.