Aspinall Denies UFC Departure After Coach's Claims

Tom Aspinall has shut down rumors that he's walking away from the UFC.

The heavyweight champion posted a statement Wednesday refuting speculation triggered by his longtime boxing coach Stipe Drvis, who claimed during a recent Instagram Live session that Aspinall no longer wanted to fight for the promotion. "I'm not leaving the UFC," Aspinall wrote, per MMA Fighting. "I've never said I have in any interview and any words that have been taken from others today are simply not true."

What's Next For Aspinall After Eye Injury Layoff

Aspinall has been sidelined since October when his UFC 321 title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest after eye pokes left him unable to continue. The injuries to both eyes required multiple surgeries, according to BJPenn.com, and neither Aspinall nor the UFC has announced a return date. Gane won an interim belt by beating Alex Pereira at UFC White House and is waiting for the rematch, potentially on a New York City card later this year.

The uncertainty around Aspinall's timeline has fueled fake news from random sources, which the champion addressed directly. "We are talking with the UFC daily and they will update you guys always," he wrote in his statement.

Aspinall's new management arrangement with Matchroom's Eddie Hearn could complicate negotiations given the long-running tension between Hearn and UFC CEO Dana White. White recently said he and Aspinall need to talk before signing off on the champion's next fight, following what BJPenn.com described as a choppy exchange over the eye injuries suffered at UFC 321.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Tom Aspinall releases statement refuting UFC departure rumors: ‘I’m not leaving’
• BJPenn — Tom Aspinall issues statement on rumored UFC departure after coach’s recent claims