Dana White: Ciryl Gane not promoted to undisputed UFC champ despite Tom Aspinall vacating title

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Ciryl Gane will have to win another fight before he can call himself the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

UFC CEO Dana White announced Friday that Gane will not be automatically elevated from his status as interim champion following Tom Aspinall's decision to vacate the heavyweight title earlier this week. Instead, Gane must compete for the vacant undisputed belt in his next UFC appearance.

"Does it make him the undisputed champion? No, he's still got to fight," White told Sportsnet of Gane's status.

"We'll see how this whole things plays out with Aspinall, and Ciryl will fight, and we'll see who becomes the champion."

White added that Gane will fight "soon, very soon," but did not elaborate on an opponent nor date for the Frenchman's next bout.

Aspinall announced Monday that he was relinquishing the heavyweight title because of ongoing complications from the eye injuries he suffered against Gane in October 2025. Their title fight infamously ended in a no-contest after Gane poked Aspinall in both eyes midway through the opening round, leaving Aspinall unable to continue. Aspinall remains sidelined with no clear timetable for his return, having suffered another setback to his right eye while preparing for a Nov. 14 rematch with Gane at UFC 334.

The injury in Aspinall's right eye is reaggravated to the point of being "the same as day one," sources told Uncrowned this week.

"I don't [know when he's going to be back]," White said Friday of Aspinall. "Obviously whenever he feels healthy again, whenever his eyes are healed, then we're ready for him.

"This is nothing new. This happens sometimes. It's unfortunate. Not the best outcome, but it is what it is."

Gane captured the interim heavyweight title in Aspinall's absence this past June, controversially defeating Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250.

In recent weeks, both Pereira and brash contender Josh Hokit have called for their shots against Gane for the undisputed belt. Top-ranked heavyweight Alexander Volkov is also assumed to be in the title mix.