Tom Aspinall and his manager Eddie Hearn have pushed Dana White to the brink, with the UFC now considering stripping Aspinall of the heavyweight championship. The situation has created an opening that could thrust Alexander Volkov into title contention.
Reports emerged on September 13 that the UFC is weighing the possibility of stripping Tom Aspinall of the heavyweight championship, with tensions between Aspinall, his manager Eddie Hearn, and UFC president Dana White reportedly reaching a breaking point.
Aspinall, 33, carries a 15-3-0 record and holds the heavyweight title while sitting sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The English fighter out of Team Kaobon stands six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the division's most dynamic threats, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a 67 percent accuracy rate while also averaging 2.62 takedowns and 1.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a rare combination of elite striking and grappling output.
Standing to benefit from any leadership change at the top of the division is Alexander Volkov. The Russian heavyweight, nicknamed "Drago," is ranked second in the division at 37 years old and carries a 40-11-0 record. At six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, Volkov presents a formidable physical profile and averages 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. According to the report, the uncertainty surrounding Aspinall's status could open a path to a title shot for Volkov.
Why it matters
- If Aspinall is stripped, the heavyweight title picture is immediately thrown into chaos, with no clear successor established.
- Volkov, as the division's second-ranked contender, would be among the strongest candidates for any interim or undisputed title opportunity.
- The standoff between Aspinall's camp and UFC leadership could reshape the heavyweight landscape well beyond a single fight booking.
- This remains an unconfirmed report, and no official action has been announced by the UFC.
