Dana White says Ciryl Gane won’t be handed the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt. Gane stays interim champion and can battle for the vacant title “very quickly,” although the UFC has not named an opponent or date.
Ciryl Gane will want yet one more win earlier than he can name himself UFC heavyweight champion. Dana White addressed the division’s sudden change throughout an interview with Sportsnet’s Diana Belbita after Tom Aspinall relinquished the undisputed title. Requested whether or not Aspinall’s departure mechanically elevated Gane, White gave a transparent reply.
Dana White Explains Why Ciryl Gane Isn’t Getting the UFC Heavyweight Belt
“No. He’s nonetheless acquired to battle.” White didn’t title the opponent, location or occasion, however mentioned Gane’s subsequent look is coming “quickly, very quickly.” The bout is anticipated to find out the subsequent undisputed heavyweight champion, leaving Gane with a championship battle moderately than an administrative promotion.
Aspinall vacated the heavyweight title this week whereas coping with ongoing eye points related to his October 2025 battle with Gane at UFC 321. Their title bout resulted in a no-contest early within the second spherical after Gane poked Aspinall within the eyes, and Aspinall subsequently required a number of surgical procedures, in response to studies.
A later harm throughout his tried comeback added to the uncertainty round his return. White mentioned he doesn’t know when Aspinall will probably be wholesome sufficient to compete once more, however indicated the UFC will probably be able to e book him when he’s cleared. That places the previous champion out of the speedy title image, even when his eventual return might shortly reshape the division once more.
Gane took the interim championship in June when he defeated Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250, staged on the White Home. The win positioned the French heavyweight for a unification battle with Aspinall, however the medical state of affairs ended these plans earlier than they reached the cage.
The UFC’s resolution is notable as a result of interim champions have beforehand been elevated to undisputed champion when the sitting titleholder vacates. Aspinall himself moved from interim champion to undisputed champion after Jon Jones retired. This time, White is protecting the interim label on Gane and making him compete for the principle belt.
No opponent has been confirmed. Alexander Volkov sits immediately behind Gane within the heavyweight rankings, making him an apparent title to look at, although the UFC has made no public dedication. For Gane, the brand new battle will probably be one other route towards the title that has stayed out of attain. He has held interim gold twice, however misplaced his earlier undisputed title makes an attempt to Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.
His deliberate showdown with Aspinall would have been one other likelihood, just for the no-contest and Aspinall’s medical points to place the division again in limbo. The heavyweight championship is vacant, Gane remains to be interim champion, and White says the reply will arrive contained in the Octagon moderately than via a belt handover.
