Dana White: Ciryl Gane's Interim Title Not Undisputed

Tom Aspinall has stepped aside. Ciryl Gane has the interim strap. But in Dana White’s eyes, the heavyweight throne is still empty.

The UFC CEO made it clear that Gane’s victory over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250, which earned him the interim heavyweight title, does not suddenly make him the unquestioned king of the division.

“Does it make (Gane) the undisputed champion? No. He’s still gotta fight,” White told Sportsnet, addressing the situation publicly for the first time since Aspinall vacated.

Aspinall Out, Picture Still Cloudy

Aspinall’s decision came after a brutal setback. He suffered an eye injury in his title fight against Gane at UFC 321 last October, an injury serious enough to rule him out for the foreseeable future. With no clear timetable for his return, the Englishman chose to vacate his title rather than hold up the division.

That opened the door for Gane, who seized the interim belt by defeating Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. On paper, the path looked simple: heal Aspinall, book the rematch, crown an undisputed champion.

Reality has been messier. Aspinall is still not ready to compete, and the UFC is moving on.

White confirmed that Gane will have his next assignment “soon,” and that the bout is expected to decide the new undisputed heavyweight champion.

“Ciryl will fight, and we’ll see who becomes the champion,” White said. “I mean, this isn’t the first time this has ever happened. It’s happening right now with Valentina Shevchenko too, so this is nothing now. This happens sometimes. It’s unfortunate; it’s not the best outcome, but it is what it is.”

Pereira Lurking, Rankings Tighten

While the belt situation plays out, Pereira has refused to fade quietly into the background.

The former opponent recently fueled speculation by posing for a photo after a meeting with UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell, sparking talk of an immediate rematch with Gane. Since their clash at UFC Freedom 250, Pereira has repeatedly voiced his frustration with how the fight unfolded, accusing Gane of landing multiple shots to the back of his head.

That noise, combined with his star power, keeps him firmly in the conversation.

But the rankings tell a different story of who’s closest on paper.

In the official UFC heavyweight media rankings, Alexander Volkov sits at No. 2 behind Gane, with Sergei Pavlovich at No. 3. Both carry serious credentials as potential opponents in a fight to crown the undisputed champion. Another name firmly in the mix is No. 4 Josh Hokit, whose rise has turned him into a popular option for a crack at Gane.

So Gane has the belt, but not the status. The contenders are circling, the UFC is ready to book, and the division is braced for a fight that finally answers the only question that matters: who is the real heavyweight champion?