Heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall has announced he is ready to return to the octagon and is simply waiting on the UFC to confirm a date. Aspinall stated that he and his team have offered flexibility, including a willingness to fight in Paris or any other location the promotion chooses.
Tom Aspinall has declared himself fit and ready to compete, telling the UFC he is waiting on the promotion to lock in a date for his next heavyweight title defense.
The 33-year-old Englishman, who trains out of Team Kaobon, currently holds the UFC Heavyweight Championship and sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Aspinall carries a 15-3 record and is one of the division's most complete fighters on paper. Standing six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach, he generates an exceptional 7.63 significant strikes per minute at 67 percent accuracy — figures that rank among the best in the heavyweight division. He also adds a consistent grappling threat, averaging 2.62 takedowns and 1.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Aspinall and his team have signaled full flexibility on location, with Paris specifically mentioned as an option they would accept, alongside any other venue the UFC selects.
Why it matters
- Aspinall is the reigning heavyweight champion, so any confirmed date immediately becomes one of the most significant bouts on the UFC calendar.
- His willingness to fight in Paris opens the door to a major European card, which the UFC has pursued aggressively in recent years.
- The heavyweight division's top contenders remain in a holding pattern until his next opponent and date are officially announced.
- At 33 and with his physical tools fully intact, Aspinall is signaling he has no interest in sitting idle while title picture clarity is delayed.
