Dana White: Ciryl Gane Must Fight for Heavyweight Title

The UFC heavyweight title scene just lost a champion, but it hasn’t gained a king.

Tom Aspinall, sidelined with an eye injury suffered in his title fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 last October, has vacated his interim belt. That decision clears one logjam at the top of the division, but it doesn’t hand Gane the throne.

Not according to Dana White.

Speaking publicly on the situation for the first time since Aspinall stepped aside, the UFC CEO made it clear that Gane’s work is far from done.

“Does it make (Gane) the undisputed champion? No. He’s still gotta fight,” White told Sportsnet.

Gane captured the interim heavyweight title by defeating Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250, capitalizing on Aspinall’s absence to reclaim momentum in a division that refuses to sit still. On paper, the obvious next step was a rematch with Aspinall, a chance to settle unfinished business after the injury-marred clash at UFC 321.

That fight is off the table for now. Aspinall, still not medically ready to compete, chose to vacate rather than hold up the division.

So the belt is in motion again.

White said Gane will have his next assignment announced “soon,” and that bout is expected to crown the new undisputed heavyweight champion.

“Ciryl will fight, and we’ll see who becomes the champion,” White said. “I mean, this isn’t the first time this has ever happened. It’s happening right now with Valentina Shevchenko too, so this is nothing now. This happens sometimes. It’s unfortunate; it’s not the best outcome, but it is what it is.”

While the UFC pieces together its plan, the contenders are already jostling for position.

Alex Pereira, never shy about a fast turnaround or a high-stakes challenge, has dropped a fresh hint. A recent photo of Pereira with UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell set social media buzzing, with fans speculating about an immediate rematch with Gane. Since their meeting at UFC Freedom 250, Pereira has repeatedly voiced his frustration with how the fight played out, accusing Gane of landing multiple punches to the back of his head.

If the UFC leans into controversy and star power, Gane–Pereira 2 sells itself.

If rankings and merit take priority, the picture looks different. In the official UFC heavyweight media rankings, Alexander Volkov sits at No. 2 behind Gane, with Sergei Pavlovich at No. 3. Both bring size, knockout power, and a cleaner sporting logic to an undisputed title booking.

Then there’s No. 4 Josh Hokit, another name gaining traction as a fresh, high-stakes option for Gane’s next defense-turned-crowning opportunity.

The belt is vacant in everything but name, the champion is “interim” in everything but expectation, and the division is waiting for one fight to restore order.

Who shares the Octagon with Ciryl Gane on that night may end up defining the next era of the heavyweight throne.