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Dana White confirms Ciryl Gane must fight for heavyweight title

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 19, 2026, 6:59 AM

Last updated Sep 19, 2026

Dana White confirms Ciryl Gane must fight for heavyweight title
Summary

Dana White has announced that Ciryl Gane will not be automatically promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion and must compete for the title instead. This decision follows Tom Aspinall's vacating of the heavyweight belt due to health issues after a no-contest against Gane in October. Originally, fans speculated Gane might unify the title with Aspinall at UFC Paris, but further complications have left Aspinall sidelined. White confirmed that Gane will fight soon, and potential opponents could include Alex Pereira or Josh Hokit, as the heavyweight division remains in flux.

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By the Numbers
  • •Dana White states Gane must fight for the undisputed title.
  • •Tom Aspinall vacated the heavyweight title due to health issues.
  • •Gane previously won the interim belt by defeating Alex Pereira.
  • •Potential matchups for Gane include Pereira and Hokit.
  • •Aspinall's absence opens opportunities in the heavyweight division.
Latest Updates
  • 6:59 AMYahoo Sports — Dana White Confirms Ciryl Gane Won’t Be Promoted to Undisputed UFC Champion, Must Fight for the Title
What they're saying
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The UFC CEO has confirmed that Ciryl Gane will need to fight a new contender to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

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