Tom Aspinall Confirms Plans for 2026 Return to UFC

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has delivered positive news regarding his anticipated return to the octagon later this year, much to the delight of fans and the division.

Aspinall, who ascended from interim to undisputed champion last year after Jon Jones vacated his title and retired, faced an unfortunate setback in his first defense. His bout against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 was prematurely halted in Round 1 due to a double eye-poke, preventing him from continuing the fight.

Following the severe eye injuries sustained during the Gane fight, Aspinall underwent surgery on both eyes last month. Complications post-surgery had initially prevented him from even training.

However, the latest update from the British fighter sounds promising. Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, Tom Aspinall was asked about defending his heavyweight title in 2026. He expressed optimism, stating:

“I hope so. I think so. They are giving me the indication that everything is going in the right direction, and I am improving fast. There was a time when things were all up in the air because we had some complications with it, but everything now is moving good, and I’m feeling a lot better.”

Aspinall further revealed that the eye injury initially led him to fear he might never be able to train MMA again:

“I just thought about what I am going to do for the rest of my life. I’ve been involved in martial arts since I was 8 years old… Without being able to do any kind of martial arts.”

The 32-year-old concluded on a hopeful note:

“That’s all in the past, mate. I’m out of the dark, and we’re moving towards the light, so I’m absolutely buzzing.”

Tom Aspinall's Reaction to UFC Freedom 250 Interim Title Fight

With Tom Aspinall sidelined, an interim UFC heavyweight title bout has been scheduled for June 14, featuring Alex Pereira against Ciryl Gane. Following the announcement of this fight, Aspinall shared his thoughts:

“I mean, who else is going to fight? The division’s on its a*s. There’s not many big fights to make, is there? So they’ve got to do what they’ve got to do. Obviously, I want to fight the winner of that. Just waiting now to get the green light, the all clear from the doctor to start training properly again. As soon as we can start training properly again, full contact in the gym, we will be getting a fight date booked to fight the winner.”

By regulation, Aspinall is expected to face the upcoming interim UFC heavyweight champion upon his return. However, the Brit has expressed a particular interest in a rematch with Ciryl Gane, seeking revenge for the eye poke incident that previously halted his career.