Tom Aspinall Back to Full Training, Targeting Ciryl Gane Rematch

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has returned to full training eight months after suffering an eye injury against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, the fighter announced on social media Wednesday.

Aspinall's injury last October required multiple surgeries and kept him out of the gym for months, freezing the heavyweight division while he recovered. MMA Mania reports that the English champion confirmed he is in talks with the UFC about rebooking the Gane fight. "Back in full training for the Ciryl Gane fight, and we're currently in talks with the UFC," Aspinall wrote, per the report.

What's Next for the Aspinall-Gane Rematch

The promotion's numbered event schedule runs through August, which points to UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi as a likely landing spot for the rematch. That would bring Aspinall back to the same venue where his title defense went wrong. He had previously agreed to face Gane in Paris this September, but placing a heavyweight championship fight on a non-numbered card appears unlikely given the stakes.

Aspinall also revealed he filmed a recovery podcast called The Inner Game during his layoff between February and March. The episodes will roll out over the next 12 weeks while he trains for the rematch.

Gane, meanwhile, claimed the interim heavyweight title by knocking out Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in April. Before the injury stoppage at UFC 321, Aspinall had won eight straight UFC fights with seven first-round finishes. The rematch will unify the belts and finally move the heavyweight division off pause.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — He’s back! Tom Aspinall back to full training, ‘in talks with UFC’ for Ciryl Gane rematch