Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight championship after reinjuring eye: 'I'm absolutely gutted

11:16 AM ETDeveloping

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In Short: Tom Aspinall, the UFC heavyweight champion, has vacated his title due to ongoing complications from an eye injury sustained during a bout with Ciryl Gane, according to reports.

Tom Aspinall, the UFC heavyweight champion, has vacated his title due to ongoing complications from an eye injury sustained during a bout with Ciryl Gane, according to reports.

Aspinall, who had previously agreed to a fight date and was back sparring, suffered further damage to his right eye, leading him to relinquish the belt rather than delay the division while he recovers.

What's still developing

The contest was ruled a first-round no-contest after Aspinall was unable to continue.
His departure clears the way for Ciryl Gane, who captured the interim heavyweight title with a victory over Alex Pereira in June, to be elevated to undisputed champion.
Despite vacating the belt, Aspinall stressed that he was not retiring and remains determined to compete again.
"I am absolutely gutted. I have chased this dream since I was 10 years old," he said in a statement.
In June Aspinall said he had returned to full training for a rematch with France's Gane and suggested they could fight in September.
Gane beat Alex Pereira to win the interim heavyweight title in June before calling for a rematch with Aspinall.
Tom Aspinall, the only Briton to win a UFC heavyweight title, has a professional MMA record of 15 wins, three defeats and one no-contest Britain's Tom Aspinall has vacated his UFC heavyweight title because of complications in his recovery from an eye injury.
Aspinall was diagnosed with a rare eye condition, and has had persistent double vision and several operations.

Sources

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