Aspinall Confirms He's Back In Training For Gane Rematch

Tom Aspinall is back in training — and the timeline he has just dropped points to a fight in late September or early October.

The undisputed heavyweight champion confirmed he is in camp and in talks with the UFC over his return, linking the announcement to a 12-week podcast series that begins dropping episodes this week. The arithmetic is straightforward.

"Back in full training for the Ciryl Gane fight and we're currently in talks with the UFC. These episodes will be coming out over the next 12 weeks while I'm in camp," Aspinall

Aspinall has been sidelined since last October, when accidental eye pokes from Gane at UFC 321 left him unable to continue, resulting in a no-contest and surgery to address bilateral Brown's syndrome in both eyes. The heavyweight title has been frozen in place ever since — Gane has since claimed the interim belt by stopping Alex Pereira in the second round at UFC Freedom 250 earlier this month, setting up the unification fight that the division has been waiting on.

A September or October date would represent almost exactly a year between the no-contest and the rematch. Given that the first fight ended before it could be decided, and that both men have genuine unfinished business from that night, the occasion when it is made will carry weight beyond the belts. Aspinall is in camp, the talks are underway, the heavyweight division is finally moving.