UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall continues to live up to the label of being one of the sport’s most “unlucky” fighters. Nearly two years after being denied his long-awaited title unification bout, the Brit finally reached the pinnacle — though not in the way he had envisioned. His crowning moment arrived via a text message from UFC executive Hunter Campbell, informing him that he had officially been promoted to heavyweight champion following Jon Jones’ retirement. But misfortune struck yet again.

During his first title defense at UFC 321 in Dubai last week, the fight ended abruptly after his opponent accidentally double eye-poked him, forcing a no-contest. The anticlimactic finish frustrated fans and added to the uncertainty surrounding the long-stalled heavyweight division. While Dana White has promised an immediate rematch, he hasn’t locked in an official date yet. In the meantime, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto has proposed a potential timeframe for the Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane rematch, suggesting it could deliver the same kind of spectacle fans witnessed at UFC 300.

ESPN insider Brett Okamoto pushes for new date in Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane rematch

In August, the UFC announced a landmark seven-year, $7.7 billion partnership with Paramount, ushering in a new broadcast era for the promotion. The historic deal also signaled the end of the UFC’s long-running partnership with ESPN, which is set to conclude in January 2026. With UFC 321 now in the books, only two more pay-per-view events remain under the ESPN banner. As the clock winds down on the network’s relationship with the UFC, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto believes the timing is perfect to rebook  Aspinall vs. Gane 2 for UFC 323 in December — the final PPV of the year.

Speaking on Submission Radio, Brett Okamoto pressed, “They need to rebook it for December right now. Just book it right now. These guys are in shape. They both have a gross taste in their mouth, you know? Uh, it’s the last pay-per-view on ESPN. Let’s do ESPN a solid… I work for ESPN. Let’s make the last pay-per-view on ESPN a good one.”

Tom Aspinall last competed in the summer of 2024 at UFC 304 in Manchester, but his momentum has since stalled. The recent double eye-poke incident against Ciryl Gane only deepened his frustration and extended his time away from the Octagon. According to Okamoto, December 6 would be the perfect date for the rematch — a move that could serve the interests of the UFC, the fighters, and ESPN alike.

“ And just book it again immediately. Get these guys back in there immediately. Because, you know how it is — they’ve got to get back into camp for each other, which they just wrapped up. They’ll have to answer the same questions about each other again. Let’s just make it happen as soon as possible,” Brett Okamoto explained.

If Dana White and the UFC move forward with Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 323, the event could shape up to be a blockbuster reminiscent of UFC 300, featuring three title fights on one card. The year’s final pay-per-view already boasts championship bouts in the bantamweight and flyweight divisions, and adding a heavyweight title clash would instantly elevate the stakes.

Latest update on Tom Aspinall’s eye after UFC 321 double eye-poke incident

Since the eye-poke incident, Tom Aspinall has found himself under scrutiny from critics who argued that the accidental foul didn’t justify halting the fight. Even though the Briton had spent over a year outside the Octagon, he had stayed disciplined in training, and people still viewed him as one of the most dangerous heavyweights on the roster. But at UFC 321, Ciryl Gane capitalized early, catching Aspinall with a clean shot that broke his nose and drew blood moments before the unfortunate eye poke brought the contest to a sudden end.

The sequence shifted the atmosphere inside the Etihad Arena, where fans turned on Tom Aspinall, booing as he stood visibly emotional and confused, questioning why the crowd had turned against him. Following the fight, Aspinall underwent medical evaluation in Abu Dhabi, where doctors assured him there was no serious damage, saying, “We didn’t find anything dangerous.” Reassured but still shaken, the 31-year-old vowed to bounce back. In a reflective YouTube video, the Brit opened up about the ordeal, drawing parallels to his 2022 knee injury recovery and promising to overcome this latest setback just as he did then.

“It’s a dangerous sport. It was way scarier than what I did to my knee,” Tom Aspinall said, preparing to sign off the video. “Because with my knee, I knew it was going to be alright. I still don’t know how this is going to be. We’re just waiting for further results. We’ve got to do more tests in the UK. Flying back today, and we’ll go from there. I’m not sure when I’ll be ready to let everyone know what’s going on. Thank you for all the support.”

With Aspinall now back in the UK to undergo additional medical tests, the MMA world eagerly awaits clarity on his condition. Fans remain hopeful for positive news as the interim heavyweight champion begins the next phase of his recovery. Stay tuned for updates on Tom Aspinall’s health.