Daniel Cormier is frustrated at fake news being spread about Tom Aspinall potentially parting ways with the UFC.
This past week, a section of social media was buzzing at an alleged report that the heavyweight champion and the UFC had mutually agreed he would vacate his title under the condition that he be granted his release from the promotion. Aspinall has been inactive since suffering injuries to both eyes after being poked by Ciryl Gane this past October at UFC 321, a foul that resulted in a disappointing
no-contest and Aspinall being indefinitely sidelined as he underwent surgery to address the issue.
Former UFC fighter Josh Thomson was one of the more prominent names to spread the rumor, which was debunked by Uncrowned’s Petesy Carroll.
Cormier can only shake his head at his friend and fellow MMA pundit, as well as many fans, biting on an unfounded report.
“You know who’s not smart at times?” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I love the fans, but there’s a section of fans that sometimes they’re so emotional… You know sometimes a kid might want something and if it doesn’t work out for them, they get pissed off. There’s a section of fans that get mad for things that are really out of people’s control. Example: Tom Aspinall in his last fight gets eye-poked, fight gets stopped, but we all wanted it to keep going. I was mad, but to say that Tom Aspinall just didn’t want to fight was crazy.
“Now we find out, ‘according to Josh Thomson,’ bro, did you see Josh Thomson? That’s my buddy, but he’s so stupid. … Josh goes, ‘UFC asked Tom Aspinall to vacate the title until he’s ready to go. He said he’d be willing to vacate the title as long as they released him.’ It’s not true. It’s just not true. Where did Josh Thomson hear that?”
If Aspinall remains sidelined for a prolonged period of time, it’s entirely possible the promotion strips Aspinall or moves on with an interim championship fight, but as of now, there have been no official negotiations between the especially in regards to a possible release.
Cormier wonders now how long it is until UFC CEO Dana White and the matchmakers actually have to sit down and have a talk with Team Aspinall.
“How long does the UFC wait, though?” Cormier said. “Hey, Josh was wrong. I don’t think that ask has been made yet. If the UFC wanted to, they could just make an interim title fight between someone else while the champion waits. Tom Aspinall fought last year. How long, though, do they wait before we start to see an interim title fight or maybe some movement in that division or trying to get some movement going in that division?”
Like many fans, fighters, and media members, Cormier is concerned about the health of the heavyweight division going forward with Aspinall sidelined, Gane in limbo, Jon Jones seemingly too injured to fight again, and Francis Ngannou twiddling his thumbs with PFL.
The current crop of UFC contenders isn’t doing much to inspire Cormier’s confidence.
“It’s just not in a great place,” Cormier said. “Would you say that if you put Waldo Cortes-Acosta in there with Ciryl Gane or Tom Aspinall, he’d be competitive? [Cortes-Acosta lost to Sergei Pavlovich] and Pavlovich got knocked out by Tom Aspinall in the first round. It just feels like there’s a clear separation between the best guys [and the rest].”
TOP STORIES
FIGHT. Anthony Hernandez would like to “torture” Sean Strickland for five rounds at UFC Houston.
Next. Alex Pereira might have to move on if Jon Jones’ arthritis keeps him out of the cage.
Ouch. Eddie Hearn roasts Dana White, Zuffa Boxing, and White’s “daddy” Turki Alalshikh.
Real. Gina Carano’s coach says she’s in it to win it with Ronda Rousey fight.
Deleted. Conor McGregor tweets and deletes a fight update.
FAFO. Deen the Great found out the hard way not to get in the face of a former UFC fighter.
VIDEO STEW
Damon Martin chats with coach John Wood.
Anik and Florian weigh in on state of heavyweight division.
Best of Fluffy.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
Fighter vs. Writer. Damon Martin and Matt Brown talk about how to fix the UFC heavyweight division and why Kamaru Usman deserves to challenge Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
It’s on.
Yeah, he’s gonna be on the card.
Would watch.
He’s back! (kind of)
New bonuses, new nickname.
Scratch it.
I mean…
FINAL THOUGHTS
Fans, please don’t get your news from Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc. And if you are intrigued by a rumor, please just take five minutes to do some basic Googling and see whether it’s been verified by any credible source. Like, for example, MMA FIGHTING DOT COM.
Take care of yourselves, everyone.
EXIT POLL
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