With Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane going down this weekend at UFC Freedom 250 for the interim title, the heavyweight division is on the move. And Pereira has just declared that if Tom Aspinall doesn’t return soon enough, it will move on without him.
Aspinall hasn’t fought since an October 2025 ‘No Contest’ where Ciryl Gane double-eye poked him badly. Since then it’s been nothing but surgeries and very slow improvements. As of now, the undisputed British heavyweight champion is still waiting for clearance
from doctors to return to full training.
That has Alex Pereira preparing to move forward with or without a unification match should he beat Gane on the White House lawn this Sunday June 14th.
“I don’t think Tom’s going to be ready,” Pereira told TNT Sports through an interpreter. “I don’t think he’s even training. He’s recovering from surgery and then training.
“I’m a guy that, I want to get ready, I want to fight somebody as soon as possible,” he continued. “I want to get another fight as soon as possible. I want to make sure I finish the year. Again, I’m 38 years old. I ain’t got time to lose. So I need to fight.”
The White House fight is also Pereira’s first bout since October 2024, where he stunned the world by smashing Magomed Ankalaev in the first round to take back the light heavyweight title. “Poatan” likes to stay active, and one fight a year just isn’t enough … especially when he’ll be making triple-champ money if he wins. We’re not surprised he’ll accept anyone other than Aspinall for a defense. Stylistically, Aspinall is a nightmare.
As for Aspinall, he doesn’t seem interested in hurrying back if doctors don’t clear him. And why should he? When he was interim champion waiting for Jon Jones to sort his s–t out, he had to defend his interim belt. But here’s hoping this is all just talk and Aspinall will be able to fight the winner of Pereira vs. Gane by the end of 2026.
