Ciryl Gane declared undisputed UFC heavyweight champion after Tom Aspinall vacates belt
Ciryl Gane has been promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion following Tom Aspinall vacating the belt, making him the first French fighter to hold the undisputed division title.
Undisputed status confirmed in Los Angeles
On September 19, 2026, the Ultimate Fighting Championship formally confirmed French heavyweight Ciryl Gane as the undisputed champion of the heavyweight division. The announcement established Gane as the first French fighter in the history of the sport's leading organization to hold an undisputed world title. UFC president Dana White made the declaration following the UFC 331 event held in Los Angeles. The decision followed a brief reversal of messaging from the promotion, as White had initially claimed one day earlier that Gane would not be elevated to undisputed status. White addressed the conflicting remarks directly while speaking to reporters at the post-fight press briefing on Saturday.
Injury aftermath and the interim title at the White House
Gane's progression to the undisputed championship concluded an unresolved dispute that began in October 2025, when he fought British champion Tom Aspinall for the heavyweight belt. That title contest was halted and cut short after an accidental eye poke injured Aspinall. The British champion suffered lingering eye complications that prevented him from entering the cage to defend the title for nearly a full year. Rather than remaining inactive during Aspinall's absence, Gane accepted a bout against Brazilian fighter Alex Pereira in June 2026 at UFC Freedom 250, an event staged at the White House. Gane captured the interim heavyweight title in Washington by dropping Pereira to the canvas for a second-round knockout victory.
- Ciryl Gane fights Tom Aspinall for the heavyweight belt in a bout cut short by an eye injury
- Gane defeats Alex Pereira by second-round knockout at UFC Freedom 250 to win the interim title
- Tom Aspinall announces he is vacating the UFC heavyweight championship due to persistent eye injuries
- Dana White confirms Ciryl Gane as the undisputed heavyweight champion at UFC 331 in Los Angeles
- Gane is scheduled to defend the undisputed title against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 in New York
Administrative elevation and divisional debate
Aspinall formally announced his decision to vacate the heavyweight belt on the Monday preceding UFC 331, citing the ongoing physical limitations caused by his eye injury. Because Gane held the interim championship, the vacancy resulted in Gane automatically being elevated to full champion status without a unification bout. The administrative handover prompted discussion regarding belts obtained outside the cage, often referred to in combat sports as email belts. Gane, nicknamed "Bon Gamin", has competed in professional mixed martial arts since making his debut in 2018. Over that period, the French athlete adapted his career approach and training regimen, committing to extensive fight preparations to attain championship status at the sport's highest level.
First title defense scheduled for Madison Square Garden
Gane will defend his undisputed status inside the cage during his next scheduled appearance. The UFC has paired the 36-year-old French champion against American contender Josh Hokit at UFC 334. The bout is set to take place on November 14, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The New York matchup will test Gane against an American opponent as he enters the cage as the division's defending undisputed champion for the first time. The Madison Square Garden contest will be Gane's first fight since capturing the interim belt in Washington in June 2026, closing out his 2026 campaign in New York.
