Tom Aspinall says his eye is healing and he will soon receive clearance to return to full contact training. Aspinall stated that UFC has notified him that his next fight will be against the winner of Pereira versus Gane. He emphasized that those two should fight each other first, then recover from their bout, and when everyone is ready, they will have their fight. The timeline suggests Aspinall is waiting for the outcome of that heavyweight matchup before scheduling his return.
Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has confirmed his eye injury is on the mend and that he is nearing clearance to return to full contact training, with the UFC informing him that his next opponent will be the winner of the upcoming clash between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.
Aspinall, 33, holds a 15-3 record and currently sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The England native trains out of Team Kaobon and has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous heavyweights on the roster, posting an eye-catching 7.63 significant strikes landed per minute alongside a striking accuracy of 67 percent. He also averages 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a threat in every phase of the fight.
Standing across from whoever emerges from that bout will be no easy task. Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion at 38 years old, carries a 13-4 record and moves up to heavyweight for the matchup. The Brazilian striker out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy and measures in at six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach. Gane, nicknamed Bon Gamin, is ranked second in the heavyweight division with a 14-2 record. The 36-year-old Frenchman from MMA Factory stands six-foot-four with a remarkable 81-inch reach and connects at 61 percent striking accuracy while landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute.
Aspinall was measured in his comments, noting that Pereira and Gane should fight first, both sides should recover fully, and then everyone will be ready to compete.
Why it matters
- Aspinall's return timeline is directly tied to the Pereira versus Gane outcome, meaning the heavyweight title picture could remain unsettled well into 2026.
- The winner of Pereira-Gane will face a man who outstrikes virtually everyone in the division by volume and accuracy.
- A potential Aspinall versus Pereira matchup would pit two champions from different divisions against each other, carrying rare cross-divisional weight.
