Published On: Fri, Feb 13th, 2026

UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall Explains Hatred For The Fight Game

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 25: Tom Aspinall of England prepares to face Ciryl Gane of France in the UFC heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 321 event at Etihad Arena on October 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Tom Aspinall is still recovering from eye pokes suffered during his last trip to the Octagon back at UFC 321 and the entire ordeal has made him resent the fight game.

The ongoing situation with Aspinall remains touch-and-go. UFC officials are waiting for the UFC heavyweight champion to regain his health and make a return to the cage to keep the division moving, but Aspinall is still working through double eye surgery to correct whatever Ciryl Gane’s fingers did to him almost four months ago. Some people — including fans and fellow fighters — have doubted the severity of Aspinall’s injury and that has left a bad taste in his mouth.

In fact, Aspinall recently sat down with Uncrowned’s Peter Carroll to discuss his ongoing recovery and impending return to the cage. During that sit down, Aspinall revealed that he absolutely hates the fight game when it comes to the business side of things. Check it out below:

“I love martial arts,” explained Aspinall. “I absolutely love it. I’ll never stop loving it, but I just hate the business. I think that fighters are just completely replaceable and the business will make you feel like that any chance it gets.

“Even if you get hit with an illegal move, which could affect the rest of your life, they don’t really give a shit. And no one else does either.”

Despite his dislike for the business side of MMA, Aspinall does intend to return to the Octagon at some point. However, health is the most important thing for the UFC heavyweight champion right now so he isn’t rushing anything along.

“I’m not even thinking about fighting at the minute,” said Aspinall. “All I’m thinking about is getting my health right, so thinking about a return date is pointless until that happens.”

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