Tom Aspinall hailed as 'honorable' as Chael Sonnen admits he was wrong about the eye injury
Dana White said the UFC is ready for Aspinall to return whenever his eye injuries heal, but no timetable is set.
- Tom Aspinall, UFC heavyweight champion, vacated his title this week following training setbacks related to eye injuries sustained in Abu Dhabi during his October bout against Ciryl Gane.
- Following his October bout, Aspinall underwent three eye surgeries after Gane poked him; although the Brit initially returned to training, he relinquished the belt because his recovery timeline remains unclear.
- Calling the decision 'honorable,' former fighter Chael Sonnen apologized for previously questioning the injury, while heavyweight Gable Steveson also voiced support, noting that the fighter must prioritize his health over the title.
- Despite Aspinall vacating the throne, Dana White, UFC president, confirmed that Ciryl Gane will not automatically be promoted to undisputed champion; instead, the Frenchman must compete against another opponent for the vacant belt.
- Potential challengers for the undisputed title now include fighter Alex Pereira, Sergei Pavlovich, or Alexander Volkov. Gane awaits his next opponent as the heavyweight division moves forward without the former champion.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Ciryl Gane Has To Fight For Vacant Heavyweight Title, Says Dana White
UFC CEO has clarified that the interim champion Ciryl Gane will not be promoted to UFC champion, In a interview white stated that Gane eventually has to fight for the title, following Tom Aspinall's desicion to step down from the title.
Dana White Clarifies Ciryl Gane’s Championship Status After Tom Aspinall Vacates UFC Title
On September 14, Tom Aspinall stunned everyone by announcing he had vacated the heavyweight championship. In an Instagram post, the Brit somberly revealed that lingering eye issues from Ciryl Gane’s UFC 321 eye poke had made his comeback uncertain. With Aspinall dethroned, interim champion Gane was expected to become the new undisputed champion, but that […]
"He's still got to fight" - Dana White clarifies Ciryl Gane’s championship status after Tom Aspinall vacates UFC title
Tom Aspinall’s decision to vacate the UFC heavyweight title has left the division waiting for a new champion. Ciryl Gane currently holds the interim belt after stopping Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250.
Dana White Provides Update on Ciryl Gane's UFC Interim HW Title
UFC president Dana White provided an important update on interim UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane’s title.After Tom Aspinall announced that he would be vacating the UFC heavyweight title, it was assumed that Gane would be promoted to undisputed champion, as has been the case in the past when there was an interim champion already and […]
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
