Tom Aspinall says he is back in full training for the first time after surgery on both eyes as he prepares for a rematch with Ciryl Gane.
Aspinall has not fought since October last year, where the first defence of his UFC heavyweight title ended in a no contest after repeated eyes pokes from Gane left the Briton unable to continue.
The bout left 33-year-old Aspinall suffering from a rare eye condition and persistent double vision before he had surgery earlier this year.
Earlier this month, France’s Gane beat Brazil’s Alex Pereira at the UFC’s White House event to win the interim heavyweight title, before calling for a unification bout with Aspinall.
“Back in full training for the Ciryl Gane fight and we’re currently in talks with the UFC,” Aspinall wrote on X.
Last week, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, whom Aspinall is signed with in a “commercial and advisory deal”, said he would advise the Briton against taking the rematch with Gane under his current UFC contract.
Aspinall has been outspoken on pay, saying although fighters complain about it, he has “accepted” his contract but aims to maximise his earnings outside the UFC.
Following their bout in October, Aspinall called Gane a “cheat” with the Frenchman responding “that’s his opinion”.
Aspinall also accused Gane of using illegal strikes in his win over Pereira – an opinion the Brazilian backs – but referee Herb Dean defended his officiating.
Since joining the UFC in 2020, Aspinall has won eight of his 10 fights while securing seven first-round finishes.
He beat Serghei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title in 2023 before being upgraded to undisputed champion last year when former title holder Jon Jones retired.
Gane is a two-time interim heavyweight champion and has failed to claim undisputed gold on three occasions.
He suffered defeat against Francis Ngannou in 2022 and Jones in 2023, before the no contest bout with Aspinall.