Tom Aspinall is still the UFC heavyweight champion. He suffered an eye injury against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 back in October 2025, an injury that required multiple surgeries. Aspinall said he'd actually agreed to a fight date and was back sparring and feeling great when an accident caused further damage to his right eye, wrecking the comeback before it could happen.
Sources (14)
We summarise the day's news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work.
- Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title (MMA Weekly)
- Five reasons why Tom Aspinall is the unluckiest fighter in UFC history (Bloody Elbow)
- Paddy Pimblett Reveals Massive Weight Cut for UFC 329 (Yahoo Sports)
- Khamzat Chimaev may step away from UFC if year-end fight falls through (Sherdog)
- BKB 59 fight card: Fernandez vs. Podmore tops Mexico debut (Sherdog)
- Ieuan Davies To Defend Lightweight Title Against Jordan Vucenic At CW Manchester (Cage Warriors)
- Tom Aspinall Vacates UFC Heavyweight Championship After Further Right Eye Damage (Yahoo Sports)
- Tom Aspinall vacates UFC title after 'ongoing complications' with his eyes (Yahoo Sports)
- Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title amid ongoing eye issues (The Mac Life)
- Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title (Yahoo Sports)
- Tom Aspinall could lose UFC heavyweight title as Dana White plans talks (Sherdog)
- Tom Aspinall officially vacates UFC Heavyweight title, reveals devastating new eye injury – ‘Absolutely gutted’ (MMA Mania)
- Tom Aspinall officially vacates UFC Heavyweight title, reveals devastating new eye injury, ‘Absolutely gutted’ (Yahoo Sports)
- Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title in bombshell statement as eye issues continue (Yahoo Sports)
Split from that day's roundup, so the sources listed are the full set behind the whole edition rather than this story alone.
This story ran in the September 14, 2026 edition of the daily show.