UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has shared an update on his return to the Octagon.
Tom Aspinall says his recovery is progressing well and that a return to full training could be right around the corner. The UFC heavyweight champion posted an update after a visit to an eye clinic, where he underwent an examination and said the results were encouraging.
Aspinall explained that, if his recovery continues on schedule, doctors expect to clear him for full-contact sparring soon. He said he is already back in the gym and training, though he has not yet resumed sparring.
Just as important, Aspinall also laid out what he expects next in the division. According to the British heavyweight, Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane are set to fight for the interim title, with the winner then moving on to face him. Aspinall said UFC has already informed him that he will meet the winner once he receives medical clearance and the timing lines up.
That scenario would have major implications for the heavyweight picture. If Pereira gets through Gane, the UFC would have a true blockbuster championship fight, pairing one of the promotion’s biggest stars with one of its most dangerous big men. If Gane wins, it would create a high-level technical matchup and give the division a fresh title storyline after years of turbulence at the top.
There are also clear stakes for both potential challengers. Pereira would be trying to strengthen his case as a rare multi-division force in UFC history, while Gane would be chasing another chance to prove he can finally break through as the undisputed best heavyweight in the world. From an American MMA media standpoint, either matchup would draw serious attention, but Pereira’s name likely gives the UFC its strongest pay-per-view angle.
Aspinall did not attach a specific month to his comeback. For now, he is waiting on final medical clearance, while the UFC’s next move appears tied to booking Pereira vs. Gane and allowing enough time for the winner to recover before the division’s biggest fight can be made.
