‘We’re good with Tom Aspinall’: Dana White provides update on UFC heavyweight champ’s status

Dana White has moved to quash speculation about Tom Aspinall's future with the UFC, affirming that the heavyweight champion remains firmly committed to the organization.

The clarification came after Aspinall's striking coach, Stipe Drvis, suggested on Instagram Live that the fighter wanted to leave the UFC—a claim Aspinall swiftly denied. White addressed the confusion in a recent interview with Spinnin Backfist, emphasizing the stability of his relationship with the champion.

"Whenever he's healthy, he'll return," White said. "He's not going anywhere. He's with us, and we're good with Tom Aspinall." The UFC president acknowledged he was unaware of Drvis's comments but dismissed them as inaccurate, while noting that Aspinall had already clarified the situation publicly.

Aspinall has been sidelined for nearly a year following his October fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, which ended in a no-contest after an eye injury forced the bout's conclusion. In the interim, Gane competed at UFC White House, where he knocked out Alex Pereira in the second round to claim the interim heavyweight title. With the fight calendar filling up, a rematch between Aspinall and Gane appears likely to occur at either UFC 334 in November or UFC 335 in December.

When asked whether Aspinall's representation by prominent manager Eddie Hearn might complicate negotiations, White downplayed any concerns. He noted that another top fighter on Hearn's roster, Ian Machado Garry, recently fought Islam Makhachev without issues, suggesting representation poses no barrier to getting fights completed.