Heavyweight Unification Hangs on Public Rift Between Aspinall’s New Promoter and the UFC

Overview

• Ciryl Gane won the interim UFC heavyweight title by beating Alex Pereira at the White House card on June 14, putting him in line for a unification bout with Tom Aspinall.
• Aspinall remains the recognized UFC heavyweight champion after an October no contest ended their first meeting by accidental eye poke and he later had eye surgery that has left him not yet cleared for contact.
• In March 2026 Aspinall signed a commercial and advisory deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent, which gives him outside representation for sponsorship and negotiation.
• UFC president Dana White has publicly refused to discuss Aspinall and has mocked the Matchroom signing while Eddie Hearn has said he will advise Aspinall not to fight for current UFC pay, creating a promoter standoff that complicates booking.
• Both fighters have said they want a rematch and Paris on Sept. 5 is a possible date, but the UFC’s contractual control of title fights and the Hearn–White dispute mean the bout’s timing, location, and pay remain unresolved.