British heavyweight Tom Aspinall has stepped down from his UFC championship as he continues battling a persistent eye problem. The 32 year old last competed in October 2025, when his scheduled title defense against Ciryl Gane was ruled a no contest following an accidental eye poke during the bout.
Since that night, Aspinall has undergone several operations in an attempt to fix the damage, but has faced setbacks including infections and further complications, leaving him unable to obtain medical clearance to compete again.
Announcing his decision, Aspinall explained that he did not want his prolonged absence to freeze the entire heavyweight category, stressing that he understands firsthand the frustration of being sidelined and wants his fellow competitors to get a fair shot at the belt. He noted that he had consulted closely with the promotion throughout his recovery and had exhausted every medical option available before reaching this conclusion.
Visibly emotional about the outcome, Aspinall admitted the situation has been devastating, given that becoming a champion had been his ambition since childhood.
