UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has released a statement addressing rumors of a possible exit from the promotion after his striking coach’s viral claim.

Aspinall hasn’t fought since UFC 321, where the fight against Ciryl Gane ended in a no contest after a vicious eye poke left the Englishman unable to continue.

He had to undergo three eye surgeries, and 10 months later, he might still not have gotten 100% fit, despite being medically cleared to resume training recently.

Aspinall also signed up under Eddie Hearn’s management earlier this year, in March, with the latter and UFC President Dana White at loggerheads for quite a while.

More recently, in an Instagram live session, Aspinall’s striking coach Stipe Drvis claimed that the 33-year-old will never fight in the UFC again.

Putting an end to all this, Aspinall took to Instagram Stories to release a statement that read:

I’m not leaving the UFC. I’ve never said I have in any interview and any words that have been taken from others today are simply not true. We are talking with the UFC daily and they will update you guys always.

Check out Tom Aspinall’s statement below:

Tom Aspinall’s Instagram Story quashing rumors about leaving the UFC (Via Tom Aspinall/Instagram)

Jon Jones Recently Shared His Prediction for Potential Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Rematch

Jon Jones recently broke down how a potential rematch between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane would go.

Speaking to Ring Magazine, ‘Bones’ said:

I believe Gane’s going to win. When you become the champion and you beat a man like Alex Pereira, it has to do something for your confidence. Even in Gane’s first fight with Tom Aspinall, Tom was looking pretty invincible until Ciryl Gane – most people feel like Gane was winning that fight. So, I feel like Gane’s confidence has to be at all-time high.

Check out Jon Jones’ prediction below:

Gerard Crispin

Gerard Crispin is an editor and writer with expertise across MMA, Football, Tennis, Cricket, NBA and F1. He has published over 3500 articles in Combat Sports, across multiple websites, viz. Sportskeeda, FanSided MMA, MediaReferee, FirstSportz and PFSN. Crispin currently covers UFC for LowKickMMA.