UFC CEO Dana White admitted his current relationship with heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall is currently strained after UFC 321.
Tom Aspinall and UFC CEO Dana White haven’t spoken to each other since Aspinall’s first title defense at UFC 321 came to an abrupt halt.
Aspinall, the UFC’s undisputed heavyweight champ, is recovering from multiple eye injuries stemming from a no-contest against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. Aspinall recently underwent another set of surgeries on both eyes as he continues to target an eventual return to the Octagon.
After UFC 321, White raised eyebrows by saying Aspinall ‘didn’t want to continue’ fighting against Gane, which was perceived by some fans and pundits as a slight at Aspinall’s toughness. Aspinall then hit back at White in a post-fight interview, questioning White’s remarks and sincerity.
Five months later, the state of the UFC heavyweight division remains in uncharted waters amidst Aspinall’s absence. In the meantime, White wanted to prioritize mending any broken fences between him and the UFC heavyweight titleholder.
Dana White clears the air on perceived tensions with Tom Aspinall after UFC 321
In a recent interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, White admitted he hasn’t spoken with Aspinall in the five months since UFC 321.
“The company has talked to him, I haven’t talked to him. Tom and I, obviously, need to talk,” White said of Aspinall.
“He came out recently, his Dad too, saying that they felt like I s—— on him in the way that I spoke about his eye injuries. Which was absolutely, positively, not the case. He’s a guy I respect, great to work with the whole time he’s been here in the UFC. Never once did I question his injuries or speak negatively about it.
“I said, ‘I think he’s OK, and I think he’s going to be good’. And they came out and said that’s not the case,” White continued on Aspinall. “My medical team was talking to him, and that was what I had thought. They thought I knocked him in some way, which I wouldn’t, and I like him very much and respect him.”
White was then asked whether or not he believes Aspinall will fight in the UFC again after his debilitating eye injuries.
“I do,” White said.
“He’s still dealing with whatever is going on with his eyes. And obviously, over the last 30 years of being in this business, I’ve seen injuries that made me question whether or not guys would come back from. And they always have, including eye pokes. But who knows?
“If you ask me sitting right here, right now, do I think Tom Aspinall will compete again? I would say yes.”
Do you believe Tom Aspinall will return to championship form? Let us know in the comments!