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Tom Aspinall<\/strong>\u2019s undisputed Heavyweight title reign could be coming to an unceremonious end.<\/p>\n Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White<\/strong> was asked about Aspinall\u2019s prolonged absence during the Zuffa Boxing post-fight press conference last night (Sat., Sept. 12, 2026). Specifically, White was questioned whether UFC should handle Aspinall\u2019s situation similarly to former women\u2019s Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko<\/strong>, who recently vacated her title because of an injury and extended recovery timeline.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll definitely be talking about that,\u201d White said. \u201cValentina doesn\u2019t want to tie up the division, and I\u2019m assuming Tom feels the same way. I don\u2019t know personally where he is health-wise with everything, but we should clear that up soon.\u201d<\/p>\n White did not outright confirm that Aspinall will be stripped or asked to vacate. Nevertheless, his response indicates that the promotion plans to discuss the Heavyweight champion\u2019s future sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n Aspinall has not competed since his first undisputed title defense against Ciryl Gane<\/strong> at UFC 321 in Oct. 2025. That fight ended in a first-round \u201cNo Contest\u201d after Gane poked Aspinall in both eyes, leaving the Englishman unable to continue. Aspinall was later diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown syndrome and underwent multiple procedures to repair the damage.<\/p>\n Next month will mark one full year since Aspinall last stepped inside the Octagon. Even more remarkably, he has not completed a fight since knocking out Curtis Blaydes<\/strong> in just 60 seconds at UFC 304 in July 2024.<\/p>\n Shevchenko voluntarily relinquished her Flyweight championship after suffering an injury, which could keep her sidelined for nearly one year. \u201cBullet\u201d was scheduled to defend against Natalia Silva<\/strong> at UFC 332, but Silva will now battle Wang Cong<\/strong> for the vacant belt while Shevchenko recovers. Her team expects her to receive another title opportunity upon returning.<\/p>\n Whether Aspinall will make the same sacrifice should finally become clear soon.<\/p>\n