TLDR
- Tom Aspinall is back in full training after surgery on both eyes following injury from Ciryl Gane’s eye pokes in October
- Their first fight ended in a no contest when Aspinall could not continue due to repeated eye pokes that caused double vision
- Gane recently won the interim heavyweight title by defeating Alex Pereira and called for a unification bout
- Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn advised Aspinall against the rematch under his current UFC contract due to pay concerns
- Aspinall has won eight of 10 UFC fights with seven first-round finishes since joining in 2020
Sources: bbc.com
Tom Aspinall has returned to full training for the first time since undergoing surgery on both eyes. The British UFC heavyweight champion is preparing for a rematch with Ciryl Gane, the fighter whose eye pokes ended their October bout.
Aspinall announced on social media that he is back in full training and currently in talks with the UFC about the fight. The 33-year-old has been out of action since October 2025, when his first title defense against Gane ended in a no contest.
The October fight ended when repeated eye pokes from Gane left Aspinall unable to continue. Following the bout, Aspinall suffered from a rare eye condition and persistent double vision that required surgery earlier this year.
Gane Wins Interim Title
Earlier this month, Gane earned his way to a rematch by defeating Alex Pereira at the UFC’s White House event. The French fighter won the interim heavyweight title and immediately called for a unification bout with Aspinall.
Gane is now a two-time interim heavyweight champion. He has previously failed to win undisputed gold on three occasions, losing to Francis Ngannou in 2022 and Jon Jones in 2023.
TOM ASPINALL! 🇬🇧
CIRYL GANE! 🇫🇷
TITLE UNIFICATION! 🏆
Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane will run it back to unify the UFC Heavyweight Championship! 😤 pic.twitter.com/WjfFELmZWm
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) June 16, 2026
Aspinall called Gane a “cheat” after their October fight, while Gane responded that it was just Aspinall’s opinion. The British champion also accused Gane of using illegal strikes in the recent Pereira fight, a claim the Brazilian fighter supports.
Referee Herb Dean, who officiated both fights, has defended his decisions. The controversy has added tension to the upcoming rematch between the two fighters.
Contract and Pay Concerns
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who has a commercial and advisory deal with Aspinall, recently advised against the rematch under the current UFC contract. Hearn made these comments last week regarding the fighter’s compensation.
Aspinall has been outspoken about fighter pay in the UFC. He says that while fighters complain about payment, he has “accepted” his contract but aims to maximize his earnings outside the UFC.
The British fighter has built an impressive record since joining the UFC in 2020. He has won eight of his 10 fights in the organization, with seven first-round finishes.
Aspinall won the interim heavyweight title by defeating Serghei Pavlovich in 2023. He was upgraded to undisputed champion last year when former title holder Jon Jones retired from the division.
Britain’s first UFC heavyweight champion has not competed for eight months since the eye injury. The surgery and recovery period have kept him away from training and competition during that time.
The rematch with Gane will determine the undisputed heavyweight champion. Talks between Aspinall’s team and the UFC are ongoing to finalize the fight details and date.
