Tom Aspinall releases statement on claims of his leaving the UFC
English MMA superstar Tom Aspinall has addressed the speculation surrounding his alleged UFC departure.
Tom Aspinall has responded to the ongoing rumors in the combat sports community of his allegedly leaving the UFC.
Tom Aspinall's predicament eerily mirrors that of preceding UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones
Back in late 2023, many expected the then-UFC heavyweight champion and the then-interim UFC heavyweight titlist, Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, to clash in a title unifier.
Unfortunately, a highly publicized negotiation dispute between Jones and the UFC ensued, with the MMA great being quite vocal about his desire for more lucrative paydays.
Over the next several months, Jones also questioned Aspinall's standing as a worthy opponent and called for a fight against ex-two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira instead.
Regardless, Aspinall continued calling Jones out. The Manchester-born combatant even defended his interim belt by knocking out Curtis Blaydes in their rematch in July of 2024 -- he'd suffered a knee-injury-induced TKO loss against Blaydes in 2022.
Jones, for his part, defended his heavyweight title by knocking out Stipe Miocic in November 2024. "Bones" retired in June of last year, but he later reentered the UFC's drug testing pool and is regarded as semi-retired to this day.
The UFC elevated Aspinall to the status of UFC heavyweight champion after Jones's exit. Additionally, Aspinall's first title defense as the undisputed champion saw him get eye-poked by Ciryl Gane in their clash at UFC 321 last October, which resulted in a No Contest (NC). He had to undergo eye surgeries, on multiple occasions nonetheless, to repair the damage. The 33-year-old recently confirmed he's been cleared to train and would like to return.
Aspinall's relationship with the UFC -- since his anticlimactic fight against Gane -- has gradually gone from cordial to turbulent. UFC CEO and president Dana White and many others have raised concerns over his lengthy hiatus.
Moreover, Aspinall's signing boxing promoter Eddie Hearn as his advisor earlier this year caused a furore, as Dana White and the UFC's Zuffa Boxing venture has caused them to be at loggerheads with Hearn in recent times. Some observers cite how eerily similar Aspinall's relationship with the UFC has gotten to what Jones's was before the latter's retirement.
Tom Aspinall issues a statement on his alleged UFC exit
The war of words between Dana White and Eddie Hearn has escalated in recent months. Hearn, on behalf of Tom Aspinall, has slammed the UFC for allegedly underpaying his client.
Also, Aspinall's signing with Hearn's Matchroom Talent Agency, to advise him in brand management, has led many to believe that he could choose to pursue professional boxing, that too with Matchroom Boxing rather than the UFC-affiliated Zuffa Boxing.
That would mean Aspinall's UFC departure, as he can't compete for Matchroom or any other promotional banner while still under contract with the UFC.
Well, Aspinall has now taken to X and released a statement, shutting down the rumors of his UFC exit. An image in his post comprised a write-up that read:
"I'm not leaving the UFC. I've never said I have in any interview and any words that have been taken from others today are simply not true."
He added, "We are talking with the UFC daily and they will update you guys always."
As of this time, the belief is that Aspinall's comeback fight would likely be a rematch against Gane, who recently TKO'd Alex Pereira to win the interim UFC heavyweight belt. The Aspinall-Gane title unifier could transpire later this year.
— Tom Aspinall (@AspinallMMA) August 26, 2026
