Tom Aspinall's Big Announcement

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will launch a new podcast beginning this June, hosting 'The Inner Game.'

The show is framed around elite performance under pressure across sport, entertainment, and culture. Combat sports will naturally feature prominently given Aspinall's background, but the scope extends beyond MMA.

The podcast launch comes during an extended period away from the Octagon for Aspinall, who has been sidelined since last October's no contest against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.

The fight — Aspinall's first title defence as undisputed champion after a lengthy spell with interim status while Jon Jones held the belt — was brought to a premature end when Gane landed accidental eye pokes that left Aspinall unable to continue.

The result was ruled a no contest and Aspinall has been navigating the recovery process since. The timeline for his return to competition remains unclear, but the direction of travel is encouraging.

In the meantime, Aspinall occupies an unusual position — a champion who cannot fight, presiding over a heavyweight division that has continued to move around him.

Aspinall Reacts

Gane has since moved to fight Alex Pereira for the interim title at UFC Freedom 250, a contest that exists partly because Aspinall's absence created a vacancy at the top of the division that needed filling. The podcast gives him a platform and a presence during a period when the cage is unavailable to him.

“People see the knockouts, the wins and the belt but they do not see the doubts, the pressure and the work that goes on in your head. With The Inner Game, I wanted to have real, honest conversations with people at the top of their fields about what it actually takes mentally to perform when there is nowhere to hide,” Aspinall said