Tom Aspinall Addresses His UFC Future

Aspinall is currently back in training following his double eye surgery after being diagnosed with bilateral traumatic brown’s syndrome. This was after his UFC 321 fight with Ciryl Gane last October ended in a no-contest after a double accidental eye poke from the Frenchman. Tom’s focus is on the UFC, as he has more goals to achieve. 

“To be honest, I ain’t thinking about boxing that much right now. No. I’ve got more stuff to do with the UFC,” Aspinall said

The Implications

Signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency is a brilliant “middle path” move. It allows Tom to benefit from Hearn’s massive commercial and digital reach without the immediate pressure of stepping into a boxing ring. Instead of taking a risky debut against a top-tier heavyweight like Anthony Joshua, Aspinall can use Matchroom to secure high-value global sponsorships and broadcast deals that increase his “crossover” appeal. This builds a safety net: if he eventually decides to move to boxing in his late 30s (similar to Francis Ngannou), he will already have the branding and relationship with Hearn to ensure he does so as a massive global superstar.

At 33 years old, Aspinall is in the absolute prime of his athletic life. His “No Contest” against Gane left a void at the top of the division that many fans feel he still rightfully occupies. With Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane set to fight for the interim title at UFC Freedom 250 this June, the path is clear. A return to unify the belt against the winner of Pereira-Gane would likely be the biggest heavyweight fight in European MMA history.