Dana White: Ciryl Gane not promoted to undisputed UFC champ despite Tom Aspinall vacating title

Ciryl Gane will have to win another fight before he can call himself the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

UFC CEO Dana White announced Friday that Gane will not be automatically elevated from his status as interim champion following Tom Aspinall's decision to vacate the heavyweight title earlier this week. Instead, Gane must compete for the vacant undisputed belt in his next UFC appearance.

"Does it make him the undisputed champion? No, he's still got to fight," White told Sportsnet of Gane's status.

"We'll see how this whole things plays out with Aspinall, and Ciryl will fight, and we'll see who becomes the champion."

White added that Gane will fight "soon, very soon," but did not elaborate on an opponent nor date for the Frenchman's next bout.