TOM ASPINALL has vacated the UFC heavyweight belt amid his ongoing injury “nightmare”.
The Salford fighter has not been in the ring since an eye-poke left him unable to continue against Ciryl Gane last October.
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A no contest meant Aspinall retained his belt, which he has now given up after a prolonged spell out of action.
Further eye complications, including multiple surgeries and infections, have blocked Aspinall from receiving medical clearance to fight again.
The 33-year-old says he had agreed his next fight date before an accident caused another flare-up, and he is not clear on when he will return.
On Monday morning he took matters into his own hands – days after UFC chief Dana White hinted that he could be stripped of the title.
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Aspinall wrote on Instagram: “I’ve asked the UFC to allow me to make this statement because I don’t want to hold the heavyweight division up.
“I know what it’s like to have your career put on hold and I want the other fighters to have the opportunity to compete for the title.
“We have worked closely with different doctors and specialists to try and make my return happen, but unfortunately, it’s simply not possible right now.
“I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve chased this dream since I was 10 years old.
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“I’m not done. Stepping away from the title is not stepping away from the sport or the dream.
“I’ll continue doing everything I can to get healthy, get cleared and get back to competing as soon as possible.
“What makes this particularly difficult is that many of the complications I’m dealing with are a result of fouls that changed the course of my career.
“Fighters rely on officials to enforce the rules and protect us in those moments, and it’s hard to still be dealing with the consequences today.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this absolute nightmare.”
Aspinall, who stands 6ft 5ins, has a UFC record of 15 wins, three losses and one no contest, with his only defeat since 2016 coming against Curtis Blaydes, which he avenged two years after their first fight.