Dana White confirms Ciryl Gane must still fight for vacant UFC heavyweight title

Ciryl Gane will not be elevated to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion despite Tom Aspinall relinquishing the title, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed in a recent interview. Aspinall (15-3) vacated the belt due to a lingering eye injury, leaving the division without an undisputed champion — but White made clear that interim titleholder Gane (14-2) will not receive an automatic promotion.

“Does it make [Gane] the undisputed champion? No,” White told former UFC fighter Diana Belbita. “He still got to fight.”

The decision breaks from recent UFC precedent. When Jon Jones vacated the heavyweight title, Aspinall himself was promoted from interim to undisputed champion — a pattern the organisation has followed in other divisions. Notable past interim-to-undisputed promotions include Robert Whittaker following Georges St-Pierre’s departure and Jose Aldo after Conor McGregor vacated the featherweight belt.

Gane claimed the interim title at UFC Freedom 250, where he finished Alex Pereira in a performance that appeared to set up a unification bout with Aspinall. With that fight now off the table, the Frenchman’s next opponent remains unconfirmed. Two options are reportedly under consideration: a clash with undefeated contender Josh Hokit, or a rematch with Pereira.

White added that Gane would return to action “soon,” though no date or opponent has been officially announced. The UFC heavyweight title picture remains unsettled, with no clear timeline for when an undisputed champion will be crowned.