Cejudo: Aspinall Must Vacate UFC Title or Get Stripped

Henry Cejudo says Tom Aspinall should give up the UFC heavyweight title rather than keep sitting on it while he recovers from an eye injury. Speaking on his Pound-4-Pound podcast, Cejudo argued that Aspinall is running out of time before the promotion makes the decision for him.

Aspinall has not fought since October 2025, when a pair of eye pokes from Ciryl Gane in the UFC 321 main event left him unable to continue and turned his first undisputed title defense into a no contest. He has since had eye surgery and is still working through recovery with no return date on the books.

"I think Tom Aspinall needs to vacate or be stripped at this point," Cejudo said. "What I'm saying is, as a champion, if you're hurt and you're unwilling to compete, vacate the belt, let somebody be called undisputed until you're actually back."

Why Cejudo Thinks Time Is Running Out

Cejudo pointed to the calendar as the real pressure point. October 25 will mark a full year since Aspinall's last fight, and Cejudo believes that anniversary is when the UFC's patience runs out. "Once that year is up, you're done," he said. "You're getting stripped, or they're telling you, 'Hey, you're getting stripped, or you're going to vacate.'"

It has been a stop-and-start road to the top for Aspinall regardless of the current layoff. A freak knee injury against Curtis Blaydes in July 2022 cost him a full year, and even after he won and defended an interim title, avenged the Blaydes loss, and eventually inherited the undisputed belt when Jon Jones retired, his first real title defense ended in the eye-poke no contest against Gane.

Cejudo also took aim at Aspinall's manager, Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn, who has publicly sparred with UFC CEO Dana White, including calling Aspinall's contract "a fcking disgrace." Cejudo does not see that dynamic helping his client. "Eddie Hearn does not help Tom Aspinall," Cejudo said. "He's got no leverage... Dana White's the fcking pink elephant in the room. You're f*cking with the boss."

Betting Angle

A vacated or stripped heavyweight title would blow the division wide open for betting purposes, turning the next scheduled heavyweight title fight into an interim-style feeding frenzy with a much shallower betting sample to price off of. Sportsbooks and matchmakers alike would rather have an active champion to build lines around, so any clarity on Aspinall's status, whether he vacates on his own terms or is formally stripped, should be treated as a market-moving event once it happens rather than something to price in now. Until the UFC makes a formal call, there is no fight to bet on here, but the heavyweight title futures market is effectively frozen and stays that way until Aspinall's situation is resolved.

Not every champion who sits out a year loses their belt; Cejudo himself noted that bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison has gone a year without defending and kept her title. But Cejudo does not believe the UFC will extend Aspinall that same grace given the contract friction with Hearn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Henry Cejudo want Tom Aspinall to vacate the UFC heavyweight title?

Henry Cejudo argues that Tom Aspinall has been out since October 2025 recovering from an eye injury suffered against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, and believes a champion who cannot compete for a full year should vacate rather than keep the title in limbo.

Why did Tom Aspinall's title fight against Ciryl Gane end in a no contest?

The UFC 321 main event between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane ended in a no contest after Gane poked Aspinall in the eye multiple times, leaving Aspinall unable to continue in the first round.

Who manages Tom Aspinall and why has that been controversial?

Tom Aspinall is managed by Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn, who has publicly clashed with UFC CEO Dana White, including calling Aspinall's UFC contract 'a disgrace,' a dynamic Henry Cejudo says is not helping Aspinall's standing with the promotion.