The UFC president demands an urgent interim heavyweight title fight following Tom Aspinall’s injury

Dana White, UFC president, has announced that an interim heavyweight title fight will be organized urgently following Tom Aspinall’s injury. The Brit’s prolonged absence, due to a severe eye injury suffered at UFC 321 in October 2025, forces the division to act. Sergei Pavlovich and Stipe Miocic could face off to crown a new interim champion.

To remember:

Dana White confirms that the UFC’s heavyweight division will not remain inactive despite Tom Aspinall’s injury.
An interim title fight becomes inevitable in Aspinall’s prolonged absence.
Sergei Pavlovich or Stipe Miocic could face off to crown an interim champion.
Aspinall’s severe eye injury, sustained at UFC 321, has extended his absence to this day.
His manager, Eddie Hearn, insists on the need for a cautious recovery despite the Brit’s optimism.

The UFC president, Dana White, has recently clarified the explosive situation in the heavyweight division following Tom Aspinall's injury. Since his fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025, the Brit has been sidelined due to a severe eye injury. According to his manager Eddie Hearn, the injury requires a cautious recovery, despite Aspinall’s own optimism.

A Heavyweight Division in Limbo

Faced with this prolonged absence, Dana White has confirmed that the division will not remain idle. An interim title fight now seems inevitable. Two names are circulating for this decisive bout: Sergei Pavlovich and Stipe Miocic. These two contenders could face off to crown a new interim champion, reigniting the division’s momentum.

The UFC 321 Incident: A Turning Point

UFC 321 marked a turning point in this saga. The illegal eye strikes that hit Aspinall not only nullified the fight but also extended his absence. A situation that has prompted Dana White to act swiftly to prevent a prolonged stalemate in the division.

An Uncertain Future for Aspinall

Despite Tom Aspinall’s optimism, his manager Eddie Hearn has stressed that his recovery must be cautious. An eye injury of this severity cannot be rushed, and his return remains uncertain. In the meantime, the UFC’s heavyweight division may well have a new interim champion within a few months.

Dana White’s decision to set up an interim heavyweight title fight shows just how little the UFC tolerates inactivity. Between Tom Aspinall’s absence and the opportunities given to fighters like Pavlovich or Miocic, the division is set for an intense period.

Editor's Opinion

By Nakmen

Ah, the UFC and its Mission Impossible twists! Dana White in "we’re not letting the division hibernate like a bear after a pizza and beer feast" mode. But between Pavlovich and Miocic, the matchup feels like a Batman vs. Joker showdown… just with way more muscle. The real drama is Aspinall, who needs to make his comeback like a phoenix—though probably with permanent sunglasses. Eddie Hearn is right: caution is key, like in Jurassic Park—you don’t want to end up with a bird pecking at your eyes. In the meantime, may the best man win… or the most enduring one last the longest, because in MMA, sometimes it’s perseverance that makes the difference.

Article written by SkimAI
Reviewed and completed by Nakmen