UFC Considering Stripping Tom Aspinall of Heavyweight Championship
UFC president and CEO Dana White addressed UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall's lack of championship defenses in a year.
A year has passed since UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall last defended his title. Following Saturday's Noche UFC: Silva vs. Delgado event, UFC President Dana White addressed Aspinall's failure to defend the belt during a press conference. White hinted that the organization may consider taking action against Aspinall for his inactivity, although he acknowledged that the fighter's health status remained unclear.
The incident draws parallels to Valentina Shevchenko's recent decision to vacate her UFC Women's Strawweight Championship due to injury. In October 2022, Aspinall sustained accidental eye injuries during a bout with Ciryl Gane, leading to a no contest and multiple surgeries. While Aspinall aimed to return to fighting, no specific timetable was provided.
UFC has not yet announced the headline fight for their November event in Madison Square Garden. Aspinall recently joined Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Talent Agency, and Hearn urged the fighter to secure a new contract with UFC. Speculation suggests a potential rematch between Gane and Aspinall could headline UFC 334. Critics have suggested that Hearn's ongoing feud with White may have strained Aspinall's relationship with the organization, potentially leading to the stripping of his championship.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
