Daniel Cormier just wants Tom Aspinall and the UFC to get along.
For nearly a year, Aspinall has been in a bit of a cold war with the UFC, following his no-contest against Ciryl Gane that left him sidelined for months. UFC CEO Dana White made a few statements about Aspinall that the heavyweight champion took offense to, and then, earlier this year, Aspinall signed a management deal with Eddie Hearn, a man who White literally proposed fighting.
The growing animosity between the two sides, and Aspinall’s
continued absence from the cage, led some fans to speculate about the champ’s future in the promotion, so much so that earlier this week, Aspinall refuted the rumors. But for Cormier, he’s just ready for everyone to stop beefing and get back to the business of cagefighting.
“Tom Aspinall needs to be in the UFC,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “Tom Aspinall needs to be back fighting as fast as we can get him, because he is the best heavyweight in the world. Ciryl Gane is good. He looks amazing against Alex Pereira, but ultimately, the heavyweight champ right now is Tom Aspinall and the UFC needs him.
“So I hope that all this bickering and back-and-forth can be handled so that we can get the heavyweight champ, the baddest man on the planet, back inside of an octagon where he belongs.”
Not only is it where he belongs, but it’s also the only place Aspinall can compete at the moment. The heavyweight champion is currently under contract, so unless Aspinall wants to retire completely, he’s stuck in the UFC, at least for now.
But Cormier argues that even if Aspinall could leave, he shouldn’t, because the allure of the big paydays outside of the UFC is just a mirage.
“Guys, there is money out there on the open market, but then you’ll make the big money once,” Cormier said. “PFL and MVP getting together, that’s a really good thing, but then we’ll see how long they can pay that big money consistently, because if the UFC is paying Tom Aspinall … say they’re paying him $3 million to fight. They could pay him $3 million 10 times if they needed to. All those other companies, can they do that? That’s [what] you have to know as a fighter.
“Now, Francis went out, boxed, made a lot of money. Francis went and did MMA, made a lot of money. You can make a lot of money in those other things, but can Tom box? Can Tom box? There are places to fight. There are many places to fight. There are many places that will give you big money; I just don’t know if you can make the big money over and over and over again.”
Aspinall has already talked about trying his hand in boxing eventually, but for the time being, the heavyweight champion plans to return to the cage to settle his score with interim champion Ciryl Gane, with rumors suggesting the two could fight sometime before the year is out.
TOP STORIES
Predictable. Dillon Danis out; Mike Perry gets replacement opponent on 48 hours’ notice.
Apology. Bella Mir’s mother releases statement apologizing for ripping Alex Apodaca following DWCS win.
$11 Million. Kevin Holland reverses course, now claims he is the $11 million man from DWCS.
Prime. Alexander Volkanovski says fans will think ‘this looks like Volk in his prime’ when he’s beating down Movsar Evloev.
Respect. Umar Nurmagomedov has new nickname for Merab Dvalishvili after latest comments.
Comfort. Mauricio Ruffy stepping out of his comfort zone in Arman Tsarukyan fight for ‘straight shot to the title’ at UFC 331.
VIDEO STEW
Between the Links.
Shanghai weigh-ins.
Shanghai face-offs.
Volkanovski on Movsar Evloev.
Dual Arena presser.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
No Bets Barred.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
The community was ready to attack.
LOL. Can you imagine this Oklahoma drill?
Zabit says he’s too old to come back to MMA.
Take all Hype announcements with a grain of salt. Or 7.
Marcus McGhee can skate.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mike Perry (15-8) vs. Brandon Jenkins (17-11); Dual Arena 1, Aug. 29.
FEED ME MORE
Weigh in.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Not to defend Danis, but that video he posted sure looks like he’s got a legit reason to pull out. Still, hilarious that everyone thought it would happen and then it did. At some point promoters will stop working with this man.
EXIT POLL
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