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Michael Bisping argues UFC heavyweight division must proceed without injured Tom Aspinall

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated Feb 15, 2026 9:03 PM ET

Amid his fellow countryman’s worrying absence, Michael Bisping says the “show must go on.”

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains without a return date after his attempt to record a first defense of the undisputed title ended in disaster.

Ciryl Gane poked Aspinall in both eyes at UFC 321 last October, resulting in their Abu Dhabi main event ending in a disappointing no-contest.

The Englishman has been struggling to overcome the damage he sustained from the Frenchman’s fouling. Aspinall recently underwent double eye surgery, but it’s still unclear when he will be ready to return, as he battles a number of life-altering symptoms.

With that, the heavyweight title picture has stalled, and Bisping thinks it is time for the UFC to change that with the help of Alex Pereira.

Michael Bisping sympathizes with Tom Aspinall but would understand UFC asking him to vacate

A fake report about Aspinall being asked to vacate his title recently hit social media, with ex-fighter Josh Thomson among those who fell for it.

Bisping also caught wind of that ultimately false rumor, and while the UFC has not requested that the heavyweight king vacates the crown, ‘The Count’ would understand if they were to do so.

“(Aspinall) just had a double eye procedure…and it’s already been four months since the fight with Ciryl Gane,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel.

“He just had surgery, okay, and he isn’t going to be fighting anytime soon… When (rumors) said they went to Tom and asked him to vacate, I kind of understood it.

“Turns out, it’s bulls—. Tom’s waiting to make his comeback, he’s still very much the heavyweight champion of the world,” he added.

Michael Bisping tells Tom Aspinall the business can’t stop for him

The former middleweight champion then noted comments the heavyweight king recently made to Uncrowned’s Petesy Carroll. Aspinall admitted falling out of love with MMA as a business, saying he now sees how replaceable the UFC sees fighters.

While he sympathizes with Aspinall’s situation, Bisping offered a defense of the promotion and told his fellow countryman that things can’t stop moving due to his injuries.

“I understand what Tom’s saying, okay? Because you do feel like the whole world is turning on you. And he wasn’t the person at fault. He wasn’t. But this is the world that we live in. The show must go on,” Bisping said.

“I went through multiple eye surgeries. I wasn’t in constant communication with the UFC. They weren’t calling me, checking on me. I got a call from Dana White when he called me. I’m not talking s—t, by the way. They’ve got a business to run. They’ve got a worldwide, massive corporation to run, putting on the best fights on the planet, okay?

“If somebody gets hurt, well then that’s a real shame, but the show goes on,” he continued. “If you get hurt at work and you can’t do your job on a Monday morning, the business still continues.”

With that in mind, ‘The Count’ seemingly likes the sound of Alex Pereira challenging for interim heavyweight gold against Gane.

“I understand that he’s p—ed off… Just ignore all of that s—t and just come back in your next fight, dominate the next few, make tons of money, and retire. But in the meantime, let’s get back to Alex Pereira.

“If (Aspinall) isn’t fighting anytime soon, and it certainly looks like he isn’t fighting anytime soon… in the meantime, there’s an opportunity for Alex Pereira.”

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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