Eddie Hearn asked what is next for Tom Aspinall after UFC title decision as update on MMA star is teased

Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn has now spoken out about MMA star Tom Aspinall after the former UFC heavyweight champion’s setback in 2026.

Tom Aspinall had to make the decision to vacate the UFC heavyweight title after ongoing complications with his 2025 eye injury curtailed his MMA comeback.

The 33-year-old British UFC star underwent multiple eye surgeries after he was accidentally poked in the eyes in his one and only UFC heavyweight title defense.

Aspinall’s last outing in the octagon against Ciryl Gane was ruled a no-contest after the Salford-born fighter had to withdraw after the first round at UFC 321.

McGregor has just one fight left in the UFC before he is free to fight wherever he wants.

Tom Aspinall said that he had returned to training around June and was pushing for a rematch with then-interim heavyweight champ Ciryl Gane in September.

However, the UFC heavyweight is set to continue his absence from the sport, while Gane is now set to challenge for the title that Aspinall was forced to drop.

Eddie Hearn, who signed Aspinall to his Matchroom Talent Agency in March, was asked what is next for the MMA star after he vacated the UFC heavyweight title.

Speaking to former boxer Tony Bellew, Hearn revealed that Aspinall wants to return and is hopeful that the injured UFC star can mount his comeback in “early” 2027.

“It’s a bit really frustrating,” he said on The Stomping Ground podcast.

Hearn added: “It’s very frustrating for him because I think he’s acted, I think people are now realizing the severity of the injury because at first it was like, ‘Oh, he wanted a way out of the fight.’

“I mean, the guy’s had like three operations, basically went back to training, got hit in the eye. He can’t get cleared to fight. So, it’s nothing to do with he doesn’t feel like he’s ready.

“The doctors are saying to him, ‘With your eye as it is, you will not pass the medicals to be allowed to fight.’ So, he wants to come back. So, he’s going to have to, you know, keep working away and, hopefully, early next year [he comes back].”

Hearn has Aspinall as part of his Matchroom Talent Agency, but the 47-year-old British boxing promoter does not handle his contract talks with Dana White.

“So, we talk to them about the whole situation,” he explained.

“We don’t want to rock the boat at the same time. Sort of like Ian [Machado] Garry, you know, we’re there to drive their profile, drive their commercial revenue.

“We’ve done a great, I mean, Tom has made a lot of money with us on that. You know, his podcast is great. Obviously, a lot better than this [one] and like, you know, he’s making big money out of deals, but we don’t want to like come in and affect their position within the UFC.”

Ciryl Gane was upgraded to the UFC heavyweight champion after Aspinall vacated the belt and will now defend the title against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 in November.