UFC Champ Aspinall Missed London Event Due to Surprise Invite

Heavyweight titleholder was not formally invited to UFC London card in March, says manager Eddie Hearn.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 5:38pm

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UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall was a surprise no-show at the UFC London event in March, and his manager Eddie Hearn has now revealed the reason why. Hearn explained that Aspinall, who is still recovering from an eye injury, did not receive a formal invitation to the event and only got a last-minute text from UFC President Dana White asking if he wanted to attend, which was too short notice given Aspinall lives five hours away.

Why it matters

Aspinall is one of the biggest stars in British MMA and has headlined several UFC events in his home country, so his absence from the London card was unexpected. The lack of a formal invitation, especially for a champion of his stature, has raised questions about the UFC's communication and relationship with top fighters like Aspinall.

The details

Aspinall suffered an eye injury at UFC 321 in October 2025 and has been sidelined since then, with the UFC creating an interim heavyweight title in his absence. He has returned to light training but is still waiting for full clearance to resume sparring. Hearn pointed out that while fellow British champion Leon Edwards also wasn't on the UFC London card, his relationship with the promotion isn't as close as Aspinall's, making the oversight more surprising.

  • Aspinall suffered the eye injury at UFC 321 in October 2025.
  • The UFC London event took place on March 21, 2026.
  • Aspinall received a last-minute text from Dana White about attending the event on the day of the fight.

The players

Tom Aspinall

The UFC heavyweight champion, who is one of the biggest stars in British MMA and has headlined several UFC events in his home country.

Eddie Hearn

Aspinall's manager and the head of Matchroom Talent Agency.

Dana White

The president of the UFC.

Ciryl Gane

The fighter who injured Aspinall's eye at UFC 321, leading to the creation of an interim heavyweight title.

Alex Pereira

The fighter scheduled to face Ciryl Gane for the UFC interim heavyweight title on June 14.

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What they’re saying

“He was very surprised [that] he never got an invite. He got a text from Dana [White] at about 6pm on the day of the fight saying, 'Would you like to come tonight?' And he lives five hours away. So, that wasn't ideal.”

— Eddie Hearn, Aspinall's manager

“It would've been one thing if it were a big star-studded card.”

— Ariel Helwani, Interviewer

“Exactly. Let's be honest; it wasn't exactly a card full of huge names.”

— Eddie Hearn, Aspinall's manager

What’s next

Aspinall is still waiting to get full clearance to resume sparring and fighting after his eye surgery. The UFC has put an interim heavyweight title in place during his time away, with Ciryl Gane scheduled to face Alex Pereira for that belt on June 14.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for better communication and relationship-building between the UFC and its top fighters, especially champions like Aspinall who are major draws in their home markets. The oversight of not formally inviting Aspinall to a UFC event in his own country raises questions about the promotion's priorities and how it manages its star talent.