Did Tom Aspinall really get asked to give up his UFC title? Let's dive into the claim made by Josh Thomson and see if it holds water!
It appears that a well-known figure in the MMA world might have fallen for some fabricated news. The UFC's heavyweight division has been in a bit of a holding pattern since the dramatic events that unfolded in Abu Dhabi last October. In what was the only title fight in that division for the entire year, the reigning champion, Tom Aspinall, suffered a severe eye poke from his opponent, Ciryl Gane. This unfortunate incident led to their UFC 321 main event being declared a no-contest.
Because of the significant damage sustained from what was deemed an egregious foul, the English powerhouse has been sidelined ever since. Aspinall recently underwent a double eye surgery, and as a result, the timeline for his recovery and eventual return to the octagon remains uncertain. This has naturally led to many questions about the UFC's strategic plans for the division. And recently, one fighter thought he had uncovered a rather startling answer.
But here's where it gets controversial... Could the UFC really be considering making Tom Aspinall relinquish his championship belt?
Josh Thomson, a former Strikeforce champion and a familiar face in the UFC, recently stirred up a considerable amount of discussion. He shared a claim he had heard about Aspinall in a video posted on X, formerly Twitter. 'The Punk,' as Thomson is known, seemed to have been misled by a post from an account notorious for spreading 'fake news.' This particular post alleged that Aspinall had demanded his release from the UFC after being asked to vacate his heavyweight title.
Thomson stated, "The UFC asked Tom Aspinall to vacate the title until he was ready to go, and he said he’ll be ready to vacate the title as long as they release him." He further elaborated, "Now that opens the door so he can go ahead and box. This is a really weird situation. The heavyweight division is just a total s— show right now."
However, there is absolutely no evidence to support this sensational claim. A respected reporter, Petesy Carroll, recently took to social media after seemingly verifying the situation with Aspinall's team. He confirmed that there have been no discussions whatsoever about vacating the title between the champion and the UFC.
Carroll directly addressed the rumor, writing on X, "This is not true. No one has contacted Tom Aspinall or his team about vacating his title or being exiled from the roster. Seems like that would be important in terms of a mutual agreement."
And this is the part most people miss... Following Thomson's post, fans were quick to point out his apparent mistake, informing him that his 'source' is well-known for fabricating fight outcomes and other news. Many seized the opportunity to playfully mock the former fighter.
Comments included: "Dude you got baited HARD. Stop pretending to be a journalist," "Your ‘source’ is a bait Twitter account," and "That dude invents story after story. He’s been called out so many times for it."
Given the dubious origin of the information, it appears that Tom Aspinall's position as the UFC heavyweight champion is completely secure. The idea that he would be asked to vacate his title and subsequently be released seems to be nothing more than a fabrication.
So, what do you think? Did Josh Thomson make a genuine mistake, or was this a deliberate attempt to create drama? And more importantly, how do you see the UFC's heavyweight division recovering from this recent turbulence? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
