British mixed martial artist Tom Aspinall vacated his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight title on Monday following persistent medical complications with his eyes.
Former UFC champion suffered a severe double eye poke during a UFC 321 bout against Ciryl Gane last October.
The British MMA fighter underwent multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery over the past year.
Aspinall confirmed the decision to vacate the crown through a detailed social media post on Instagram.
Relinquishing the world title comes after a recent sparring session caused further damage to his right eye.
“This is the truth: Ongoing complications with my eyes mean I cannot get medically cleared to fight right now,” Aspinall wrote.
“I’ve had multiple surgeries, accidents and infections, and done everything possible to get back to competing.”
Love sports updates on the go? Click here to follow us on WhatsApp Channel
The thirty-three-year-old fighter clarified that stepping down does not mark the end of his professional career and he will come back to reclaim the title.
“I had previously agreed to a fight date and was back sparring, feeling great and ready to compete when an accident caused further damage to my right eye,” Aspinall stated.
“This means more time away from the sport, and right now, the timing of my return is unclear.”
The former champion emphasised the importance of allowing other athletes to compete for the crown.
“I’ve now made the decision to vacate the heavyweight title,” Aspinall added.
“I’ve asked the UFC to allow me to make this statement because I don’t want to hold the heavyweight division up. I know what it’s like to have your career put on hold and I want the other fighters to have the opportunity to compete for the title.”
The heavyweight division now moves forward as the UFC evaluates potential promotion for interim champion Ciryl Gane.
Aspinall maintained constant communication with UFC executives throughout treatment. He remains determined to complete physical rehabilitation and plans to return once medically cleared.
READ: Tom Aspinall provides major update on eye injury
Written by Iqra Afroz
Iqra Afroz is a sports content writer at SportsManch with a growing passion for cricket and contemporary sports media. She specialises in news writing and digital content, with a focus on delivering concise, accurate and reader-friendly stories. With a keen eye for detail, Iqra aims to provide informative and engaging sports coverage while continuing to develop her voice as a modern sports journalist.