Dana White Stands Firm on Tom Aspinall's UFC Status After Shock Matchroom Switch
UFC President Dana White has emphatically declared that Tom Aspinall is still "my heavyweight champion" following the British fighter's unexpected move to rival promoter Eddie Hearn's Matchroom agency. The announcement, made on Thursday, sees Aspinall join Matchroom's new talent representation arm, intensifying the public feud between White and Hearn.
A Surprising Shift in Boxing Promotions
This development comes just weeks after Hearn lost star boxer Conor Benn to White's Zuffa Boxing, marking a significant blow to the British promoter. Aspinall's alignment with Matchroom now positions Hearn to play a crucial role in negotiations for the heavyweight champion's potential return to the Octagon, adding a new layer of complexity to the ongoing rivalry.
Aspinall's UFC future has been uncertain since he sustained a serious eye injury during his last title defence against Ciryl Gane. The fighter has undergone multiple surgeries to address the issue, but White previously appeared to downplay the severity, stating in a post-fight press conference that Aspinall "didn't want to continue."
White Addresses Misunderstandings and Injuries
In an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, White sought to clarify any perceived rift with Aspinall, promptly correcting Morgan when he referred to the 32-year-old as "was" his champion. "He is my heavyweight champion," White asserted. "The company has talked to him. I haven't talked to him. Tom and I obviously need to talk."
White addressed concerns that Aspinall and his father felt disrespected by his comments on the eye injury, stating: "Tom came out recently, his dad too, they felt like I had s*** on them in the way that I spoke about his eye injury, which was absolutely, positively not the case." He emphasised his respect for Aspinall, noting he never questioned the injury or spoke negatively about him.
"Tom Aspinall is a guy that I respect. He's great to work with. Never once did I question his injury or speak negatively about him," White explained. "I said: 'I think he is OK, I think he is going to be good.' And they came out and said: 'No, that's not the case.'"
Confidence in Aspinall's UFC Return
Despite the timing of the interview—released hours after Aspinall's Matchroom move—White expressed confidence that the champion will fight again in the UFC. "I do. He is still dealing with whatever is going on with his eyes," he said, drawing on his three decades of experience in combat sports. "In the past 30 years in this business I have seen injuries that I have questioned guys can come back from. And they always have. Including eye pokes."
When pressed about Aspinall's association with Hearn, White dismissed any issues with the deal, comparing it to his past dealings with former fighter Tito Ortiz. "We don't have any issues with Eddie, they can get whoever they want to represent them," he stated at a press conference ahead of UFC 326. "Tito Ortiz used to represent people but we got it done."
This stance underscores White's pragmatic approach to promoter rivalries while reaffirming his commitment to Aspinall's place in the UFC hierarchy, even as external alliances shift.
