Tom Aspinall relinquishes UFC heavyweight title as ongoing eye issue throws Briton's UFC career into doubt

"Heartbroken" Tom Aspinall has been forced to vacate his UFC heavyweight title amidst speculation that Dana White was on the brink of stripping the Briton of his belt.

Reports over the weekend indicated UFC supremo White was considering forcing the Mancunian into handing back his belt as he continues to suffer with serious eye complications following his clash with Ciryl Gane almost 12 months ago.

French operator Gane was adjudged to have accidentally poked Aspinall in both of his eyes during the early stages of their much-anticipated clash in Abu Dhabi, leading the official with no option other than to declare the bout as a no-contest with the defending champion unable to continue.

The 33-year-old has since undergone numerous surgeries as well as being diagnosed with traumatic bilateral Brown's syndrome; an issue that affects eye movement and causes severe double vision.

There were hopes earlier this year that Aspinall would be able to resume his UFC career with a rematch with Gane, who he has branded a cheat, in the pipeline for this month.

However, the severity of the injury has put pay to any imminent return to the sport, with Aspinall now confirming his decision to relinquish his title.

"I am absolutely gutted. I have chased this dream since I was 10 years old," he said in a statement on Instagram on Monday.

"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.

"I had previously agreed to a fight date and was back sparring, feeling great and ready to compete when an accident caused further damage to my right eye.

This means more time away from the sport, and right now, the timing of my return is unclear. I am not done though. Stepping away from the title is not stepping away from the sport or the dream.

- Tom Aspinall (Instagram)

"I will continue doing everything I can to get healthy, get cleared and get back to competing as soon as possible."

News of Aspinall's decision comes just a couple of weeks after Valentina Shevchenko vacated the women's flyweight title due to her own persistent injury issues.

It's now expected that Gane will be elevated to champion after he beat Alex Pereira to capture the interim heavyweight title in June.