UFC president Dana White has clarified Ciryl Gane's status following Tom Aspinall's decision to vacate the heavyweight title.
As reported by İdman.Biz, White stressed that Gane has not automatically become the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion despite holding the interim belt.
"Is Ciryl Gane the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion? No. He still has to fight. He will fight soon," White said in an interview with Diana Belbita.
Aspinall has not competed since October 2025, when he faced Gane at UFC 321. The bout was declared a no contest following an accidental eye poke. The British fighter has since been unable to fully recover from the injury and has remained sidelined.
Gane, 36, began his professional MMA career in 2018 and joined the UFC the following year. The Frenchman has challenged for the heavyweight title three times during his career and has recorded 11 wins and two defeats in the UFC.
Gane captured the interim heavyweight title at the UFC event at the White House in June, defeating Brazil's Alex Pereira.
White's latest comments mean another fight will be required to determine the UFC's undisputed heavyweight champion following Aspinall's decision to relinquish the belt.
