Tom Aspinall remains sidelined as he continues to recover from multiple eye injuries suffered against Ciryl Gane last year at UFC 321. Aspinall, the UFC’s undisputed heavyweight champion, is planning a return to the Octagon by year’s end for a rematch with the now-interim titleholder Gane.
After their first fight went to a no contest, Aspinall and Gane seem to be set to run it back, potentially on the upcoming New York City card. But Aspinall’s newly structured management, featuring Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, could complicate contract talks for his return to the cage.
UFC CEO Dana White and Hearn’s months of bad blood could make looming fight negotiations tense. Aspinall’s longtime boxing coach Stipe Drvis, in a recent Instagram Live session, raised eyebrows when he claimed that Aspinall didn’t want to fight in the UFC again.
“I’m not leaving the UFC,” Aspinall posted Wednesday.
“I’ve never said I have in any interview, and any words that have been taken from others today are simply not true. We are talking with the UFC daily, and they will update you guys always.”
As of this writing, White and the UFC matchmakers haven’t shared an update on Aspinall’s status and a timeline for his return.
Things between Aspinall and White, specifically, have been choppy in recent months. After White’s apathetic response to Aspinall’s eye injuries suffered at UFC 321, followed by Aspinall’s cold reply, White said that he and the heavyweight champ ‘need to talk’ before signing off on his next fight.
In the meantime, Aspinall’s status in the UFC remains set in stone, but things could get awkward due to White and Hearn’s longtime beef.
No need for statements Tom we’ve moved on.
We saw the Aspinall myth dismantled by Cereal Gain.
The great white hope fizzled out quick
Aspinall hasn’t wanted to fight for over 3 years. Anyone who is taking one year intervals (barring injury) between fights over multiple years is dead to me.
Strip the bitch and let the new blood run.
This is the most ridiculous of all things to me.
Fedor, Nog, Mirko, fought 4×/year on average.
He’s not a fighter. He’s an MMA athlete that knows how to fight.
Dana absolutely loves shitting on his prized heavies though.
Hes pissed away all the goodwill he got from Jon ducking him at this point.
Yup. You’d think a true fighter would be chomping at the bit to get back in there with Gane and try to put things right instead of being content to let everyone think you got your ass kicked and was looking for a way out.
Yeah i hate it for him but he’s not fighting. Time to move on imo
I’m proud of you for calling it how it is with your fellow native. You’re keeping it a buck and I respect that shit.
Aspinall is issuing statements with his logo on it like a letterhead?
Lmao does this retard think he’s Michael Jordan or something?
I dont get the hate this guy gets. Didnt he have to get surgery in his eye?
Seems like you’ve followed this closely…
I follow him but i dont follow dana. Let me guess, hes talking shit about him like he does to every fighter that doesnt do exactly what he wants?
You could read this thread and find that answer. Casual.