UFC champ Tom Aspinall: Confidence took a hit after Ciryl Gane fight
UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has conceded his confidence has dropped following his fight towards Ciryl Gane in October.
Aspinall (15-3) made his first title protection towards Gane (13-1) at UFC 321 however the fight was referred to as off in Round 1 after Aspinall was poked within the eye. The bout was dominated a no contest.
He has since undergone surgical procedures on his eyes and whereas he has returned to gentle coaching, a timeline for his potential return to the Octagon stays unclear.
In the aftermath, Aspinall stated he was upset with Dana White’s response to the incident after the UFC president stated the Brit “didn’t want to continue” and appeared to minimize the fighter’s accidents.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Aspinall stated: “I mean, how can your confidence not take a knock? You work your whole life for something, and someone can just spin it on you that [I] just didn’t want to carry on.
“I’ve had hundreds of thousands of fights; I’ve been combating since I used to be eight years outdated. That will not be the case.
“I need to work on that [confidence] a little bit, and I feel like Eddie [Hearn] and the team are going to help with that. So that’s why I’ve come with them.”
Aspinall has teamed up with Eddie Hearn, who will act in a administration function, and the newly formed Matchroom Talent Agency.
However, the heavyweight champion insisted signing with Hearn has nothing to do together with his relationship with White.
“This is not like point-scoring stuff for me,” Aspinall stated.
“This is me wanting to get what I think I’m worth. And if I can work with people who I like and they’re going to help me, I will absolutely take it. No, this isn’t getting me back at anyone or anything like that.
“Dana’s not spoken to me. To be trustworthy, so far as I’m conscious, or not less than from my expertise, UFC fighters do not actually have a private relationship with Dana.
“We undergo Hunter Campbell. I do not suppose it is actually [White’s] job to achieve out, however, no, I’ve not spoken to him personally.
