Dana White confirms Ciryl Gane won’t be promoted to undisputed champion
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title is vacant.
Tom Aspinall (15-3) recently vacated the heavyweight title due to his lingering eye injury. When a champion vacates a title, the UFC usually promotes the interim champion, if any, to undisputed status. However, UFC CEO Dana White recently confirmed that interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane (14-2) won’t be promoted to undisputed despite Aspinall relinquishing the belt.
Gane won the interim title at UFC Freedom 250, where he finished Alex Pereira to set up a rematch and title unification bout with Aspinall. The Frenchman looks set to fight for the undisputed title next, with a clash against the undefeated Josh Hokit and a rematch with Pereira both rumored.
White revealed in a recent interview with former UFC fighter Diana Belbita that “Bon Gamin” won’t be promoted to undisputed status and will return to action “soon.”
“Does it make [Gane] the undisputed champion? No,” White told Belbita. “He still got to fight.”
Aspinall was the latest to be promoted from interim to undisputed when Jon Jones vacated the heavyweight title, which is typically the norm in such situations. Other notable interim-to-undisputed promotions include Robert Whittaker-Georges St. Pierre and Jose Aldo-Conor McGregor.
Tom Aspinall (15-3) recently vacated the heavyweight title due to his lingering eye injury. When a champion vacates a title, the UFC usually promotes the interim champion, if any, to undisputed status. However, UFC CEO Dana White recently confirmed that interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane (14-2) won’t be promoted to undisputed despite Aspinall relinquishing the belt.
Ciryl Gane must fight for vacant UFC heavyweight title after Tom Aspinall vacates belt
Gane won the interim title at UFC Freedom 250, where he finished Alex Pereira to set up a rematch and title unification bout with Aspinall. The Frenchman looks set to fight for the undisputed title next, with a clash against the undefeated Josh Hokit and a rematch with Pereira both rumored.
White revealed in a recent interview with former UFC fighter Diana Belbita that “Bon Gamin” won’t be promoted to undisputed status and will return to action “soon.”
“Does it make [Gane] the undisputed champion? No,” White told Belbita. “He still got to fight.”
Aspinall was the latest to be promoted from interim to undisputed when Jon Jones vacated the heavyweight title, which is typically the norm in such situations. Other notable interim-to-undisputed promotions include Robert Whittaker-Georges St. Pierre and Jose Aldo-Conor McGregor.