Tom Aspinall hasn't thrown a punch since October. But this week, the UFC heavyweight champion posted a simple message on X that set the MMA world alight: "Back in full training for the Ciryl Gane fight and we're currently in talks with the UFC." After surgery on both eyes to address a rare condition and persistent double vision, the 33-year-old Briton is ready to settle unfinished business in the octagon.
The injury stems from a night in Las Vegas that left Aspinall's first title defence in chaos. During his no contest bout with Gane, repeated eye pokes left the champion unable to continue—sending him to surgery earlier this year. The bout forced him to the sidelines while Gane pressed on, defeating Brazil's Alex Pereira at the UFC's White House event to claim the interim heavyweight title and immediately call for a unification fight.
Not everyone is thrilled about the prospective rematch. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, whom Aspinall signed with in a "commercial and advisory deal" last week, said he would advise the Briton against taking the Gane fight under his current UFC contract. Aspinall has been outspoken on fighter pay, noting that while others complain, he has "accepted" his deal but aims to maximise earnings outside the octagon. The tension between athlete and organisation highlights a growing rift in professional combat sports over compensation.
The history between these two fighters is already heated. Following their October bout, Aspinall called Gane a "cheat"—a charge Gane dismissed as "his opinion." More recently, Aspinall accused the Frenchman of using illegal strikes in his win over Pereira, a claim the Brazilian backs. Referee Herb Dean, who officiated both fights, defended his decisions.
Despite the controversy, the numbers speak for themselves. Since joining the UFC in 2020, Aspinall has won eight of his ten fights, securing seven first-round finishes. He claimed the interim heavyweight title by defeating Russia's Serghei Pavlovich in 2023 before being upgraded to undisputed champion when Jon Jones retired. Gane, a two-time interim heavyweight champion, has failed three times to claim undisputed gold—falling to Francis Ngannou in 2022 and Jones in 2023 before the no contest.
For Aspinall, this rematch is about more than titles. It's about proving he can overcome not just an opponent, but the physical aftermath of their first encounter. With full training resumed and negotiations underway, the heavyweight unification bout that MMA fans have been craving appears closer than ever.