Dana White reveals UFC ‘will be talking about’ stripping Tom Aspinall of heavyweight title

Dana White says that talks will begin shortly over whether or not to strip Tom Aspinall amid his ongoing eye issues.

Next month will mark an entire year since his controversial Abu Dhabi title fight with Ciryl Gane which ended in a No Contest after a first round eye poke. Aspinall has since undergone multiple eye surgeries, but is still not cleared to compete.

The UFC heavyweight champion is yet to be cleared to return from the eye injuries he suffered almost a year ago.

After Valentina Shevchenko vacated her flyweight belt earlier this month after even less of an absence than Aspinall, it was put to White that the heavyweight division could face a similar fate. The UFC boss has yet to make a decision, but noted that it’s unlikely the Brit will want to hold up his weight class.

Since last October, the relationship between Tom Aspinall and UFC higher-ups has been continuing to take hit after hit. He didn’t help the situation earlier this year when he inked a management deal with Dana White’s arch nemesis Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Talent Agency.

Now, after almost a year of inactivity with no fight scheduled, it appears that Aspinall could be in the final throes of his embattled title reign. He has yet to actually win a fight for the undisputed belt – instead being awarded the title from his position as interim champion last summer when Jon Jones retired.

🚨 Sounds like Dana White and the UFC are considering STRIPPING Tom Aspinall of the heavyweight title 😳

"We'll definitely be talking about that. Valentina doesn't want to tie up the division. And I'm assuming Tom feels the same way.

I don't know personally where he is health…

During a press conference in Las Vegas tonight, Dana White was asked if he would consider stripping Aspinall after Shevchenko’s decision, to which he replied: “Yeah, we’ll definitely be talking about that.

“It’s one of those things where Valentina doesn’t want to tie up the division and I’m assuming Tom feels the same way. I don’t know personally where he is health-wise with everything. We should clear that up soon.”