Tom Aspinall has officially given up the UFC heavyweight title after nearly a year on the sidelines with eye trouble that just won't clear up. He told he'd actually agreed to a fight date and was back sparring and feeling great when an accident caused further damage to his right eye. Aspinall said he's endured multiple surgeries, accidents and infections trying to get back, and with no medical clearance in sight, he made the call himself: "I've now made the decision to vacate the heavyweight title." He's adamant it's not goodbye, saying "I'll be back as soon as I'm medically able to be."
Sources (13)
We summarise the day's news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work.
- Tom Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight title amid ongoing eye issues (Sherdog)
- Week 6 Results + Scorecards | Dana White's Contender Series, Season 10 (UFC)
- Jon Jones questions Tom Aspinall in reaction to UFC heavyweight title being vacated again (Bloody Elbow)
- Tom Aspinall's UFC exit opens door for Josh Hokit's bold title demand (Sherdog)
- Dana White adds $50K UFC 331 bonus with one unusual catch (Sherdog)
- Brian Ortega out of UFC 331; Renato Moicano gets new opponent (Sherdog)
- ‘One of the best camps I’ve ever had’: Brian Ortega injury forces UFC 331 withdrawal (The Mac Life)
- UFC 331 loses main card matchup on fight week as star releases statement: ‘This one hurts’ (Bloody Elbow)
- Redemption: Second Chances on Dana White’s Contender Series, Igor Cavalcanti (Cageside Press)
- Scott Coker unveils Ki MMA, 32-fighter global grand prix format (Sherdog)
- Brian Ortega out of UFC 331 fight with injury, Renato Moicano gets new opponent (MMA Weekly)
- Industry vet Coker announces Ki MMA promotion (ESPN MMA)
- ‘I Gave It My All’, Seksan Looks Back On A Career Defined By War After His Curtain Call At The Inner Circle 30 (ONE Championship)
Split from that day's roundup, so the sources listed are the full set behind the whole edition rather than this story alone.
This story ran in the September 15, 2026 edition of the daily show.