Daniel Cormier: Tom Aspinall Needs UFC for Top Paydays

Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier suggests that Tom Aspinall understands his most significant financial opportunities lie with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Recent friction has emerged between the reigning heavyweight champion and the UFC leadership following Aspinall's eye pokes during his title defense against Ciryl Gane. Aspinall expressed dissatisfaction with UFC CEO Dana White's post-fight remarks, feeling White misrepresented his ability to continue fighting. White, however, maintains his intention was not to provoke his champion.

Adding to the situation, Aspinall has entered into a talent agency agreement with Matchroom, led by Eddie Hearn, a prominent rival of Dana White in the boxing world. Despite these developing tensions, Aspinall's team has indicated his readiness for a title unification bout with Gane, who has since claimed interim gold.

In a YouTube video, Cormier shared his anticipation for Aspinall's return to the Octagon, emphasizing that the UFC is the ideal platform for him. "Tom Aspinall goes out there into the open market and you could say he can fight Francis Ngannou, he will make a boatload of money one time,” Cormier stated. “And then what happens afterwards? There’s only one place to be, and that’s for him to be in the UFC. So all the bickering, the back-and-forth, I get it. I get it’s business, but ultimately he’s got to be there. It just doesn’t work if not. Tom Aspinall, to his credit, for the first time, spoke on it, and he said, I’m not leaving the UFC.’ … You know, that, to me, probably needed to happen sooner. That to me also tells me that Tom recognizes this is where I have to fight in order to make my big money.”

Ciryl Gane secured the interim heavyweight title for the second time by defeating Alex Pereira via second-round TKO at UFC Fight Night 250. While "Bon Gamin" is yet to capture the undisputed belt, he is eager for a rematch with Aspinall to achieve this goal.