Tom Aspinall gives update on UFC return with heavyweight champion entering talks

Tom Aspinall is back in the gym, waiting for a date for his UFC return.

Aspinall has been out of action since his disastrous first UFC heavyweight title defence against Ciryl Gane last October.

Getty

The fight was declared a no contest after Aspinall was rendered unable to continue due to a double eye poke from the Frenchman.

Aspinall was later diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome, a condition where both eyes lose the ability to move upward and inward.

He underwent multiple surgeries to fix the issue and eventually returned to non-contact training in May.

During Aspinall’s time on the sidelines, Gane halted Alex Pereira to claim the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250.

Aspinall has welcomed a rematch and is currently in preliminary discussions with the UFC over a date and location for the fight.

“Listen, we have let the UFC know that we’re ready to go,” Aspinall said during a video that was posted on his YouTube channel on Sunday.

“We are just waiting for dates. We’ve literally told them we can do it in Paris or wherever they want.

“So we are just waiting for them to let us know.

“I’m in the gym smashing it. We are waiting on them.”

Gane called for a second fight with Aspinall to take place in Paris, France, in September.

AFP

The UFC currently has an event slated for September 5 at the Accor Arena in the French capital.

And Aspinall has already given the date and location the green light.

“Paris in September? I’ll do that,” he said in a live reaction to the callout.

“Let me know. I don’t mind. I’ll go to Paris.

“Let me know. I’ll be there.”

UFC Schedule

There are still several blockbuster shows and exciting contests for fight fans to look forward to in 2026, and you can find the full list of all confirmed events and official bouts as part of talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.

The UFC, on average, puts on 13 to 14 premium events in a calendar year, with up to 30 smaller ‘Fight Night’ cards allowing prospects and less experienced fighters to showcase their talents.

On January 1, 2026, Dana White’s promotion signed a seven-year broadcast deal with CBS and Paramount+ for exclusive rights in the US, meaning the UFC has put on shows like never before this year.

With the historic first event in the new Paramount era, UFC 324, delivering huge success, and a one-of-a-kind fight card at the White House in June opening up the UFC to a new audience, the promotion remains a premium global sports brand, and fans are eager to keep track of results and upcoming fights.