Tom Aspinall, born on April 11, 1993, is an English professional mixed martial artist who has made a significant impact in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Currently, he holds the title of UFC Heavyweight Champion.
At 32 years of age, the heavyweight champ is arguably in his prime. But while heavyweight history would suggest he could have over a decade of fighting left if he wants, Aspinall is actually hoping to call it quits a couple of years before Jones did.
The Baddest Man on The Planet Right Now - Tom Aspinall
Early Life and Amateur Career
Thomas Paul Aspinall was born in Salford, Greater Manchester. At age 18, Aspinall had his first amateur fight. He posted a record of nine wins and no losses as an amateur. All but one of his wins came via knockout or submission.
Professional MMA Career
He made his professional debut at MMA Versus UK and later fought at BAMMA, where he amassed a record of 4 wins and 2 losses. He has also fought at Full Contact Contender in between.
Debut in UFC
Aspinall was originally scheduled to make his promotional debut against Raphael Pessoa at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs.
Read also: Aspinall-Jones Dream Matchup
Aspinall's second UFC appearance was expected to be against Serghei Spivac at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs.
Aspinall next faced Andrei Arlovski at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs.
Championship and Title Defense
The Englishman only recently started his reign as undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, having had a stint as interim titleholder that broke records for its duration amid the uncertainty surrounding Jon Jones’ future. Dana White eventually announced Jones’ retirement in June and elevated Aspinall to undisputed status.
The Manchester native has since defended the title once in a disappointing showdown against Ciryl Gane.
The UFC 321 main event concluded prematurely after Gane’s eye poke against Aspinall left the champ unable to continue. Aspinall is still recovering from the eye damage he sustained in Abu Dhabi, but a rematch with ‘Bon Gamin’ is expected to await him in 2026.
Controversy and Frustration
Aspinall’s next fight remains without a date after the Englishman revealed the serious damage he sustained as a result of Gane’s fouling at UFC 321.
The Frenchman has been accused of fighting dirty in the past, and Aspinall has called Gane a cheater in response to how their undisputed heavyweight title fight played out.
The champ’s frustration with his challenger was clear when he responded to a recent post on Gane’s Instagram account with a brutal message.
“No s- there’s not a date yet,” Aspinall wrote. “I’m not medically cleared to fight and about to have surgery thanks to your disgusting fingernails.
Potential Early Retirement
Should recent remarks prove true, there may not be an abundance of fights beyond that for the heavyweight king… UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall doesn’t intend on fighting past 36.
Jones vacated the heavyweight crown and entered retirement shortly before turning 38. Heavyweights are known for being able to compete into their forties, so it was no surprise to see ‘Bones’ soon announce plans for a comeback at the White House in 2026.
With White continuing to reject Jones’ return plans, though, it remains to be seen whether the UFC GOAT contender will stay retired. If he does, it might not be long until Aspinall joins him.
Aspinall revealed that surprise exit plan while introducing British content creator Angry Ginge to MMA training in a recent YouTube video.
“Some heavyweights go to their early forties,” Aspinall said. “That’s not what I want to do.
“First and foremost, if I’m winning, and if I’m safe and healthy, I want to keep going. If I’m enjoying it, that’s massive. It’s a tough sport.
“I love it right now. I think when you stop loving it, you probably shouldn’t do it anymore,” he continued.
“I’d like to cap it at like 35, 36 maybe. It’s hard to say. But I love it right now.”
Fan Poll Results
Are you surprised to see so many fans choose Tom Aspinall over Alex Pereira for Jon Jones’ comeback fight?
| Opponent Option | Percentage of the Bloody Elbow Fan Vote |
|---|---|
| Tom Aspinall | 44.14% (1,160 votes) |
| Alex Pereira | 26.48% (696 votes) |
| Francis Ngannou | 16.82% (442 votes) |
| Khamzat Chimaev | 10.27% (270 votes) |
| Someone else | 2.28% (60 votes) |
Achievements
- Performance of the Night (Seven times)
- Ranked #3 Submission of the Year (2022)
- Ranked #6 Fighter of the Year (2023)
- Ranked #8 Upset of the Year (2023)
- Ranked #6 Knockout of the Year (2023)
- Retained the UFC Heavyweight Championship
- Defended the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship
- Won the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship