Cortes-Acosta On Aspinall: 'Not A Champion'

Waldo Cortes-Acosta no longer considers Tom Aspinall a legitimate UFC heavyweight champion.

Aspinall's first title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest last October when Gane accidentally poked the Englishman in both eyes during the opening round. The champion has been sidelined since, undergoing multiple eye procedures, but Cortes-Acosta claims Aspinall is ducking a rematch. Gane earned interim gold with a second-round knockout of Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in April, setting up an undisputed bout that has yet to materialize.

Speaking at Noche UFC 4 media day, Cortes-Acosta questioned why the champion remains inactive nine months after the injury. He suggested Aspinall has had enough time to heal and accused him of hiding from Gane. "It's frustrating to see the champion be like this," Cortes-Acosta said, per Sherdog. "He knows that he needs to come back and fight with Ciryl Gane. For me, this is not a champion. A champion needs to be a warrior in the ring."

UFC CEO Dana White and Aspinall's advisor Eddie Hearn have both indicated the recovery process is ongoing, though no return date has been announced. Cortes-Acosta fights Curtis Blaydes at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, with the bout carrying significant heavyweight rankings implications.