Tom Aspinall has repeatedly cautioned fans that his big announcement tonight would not involve any fight news. However, that has not stopped some fans on social media from expressing their disappointment.
The UFC interim heavyweight champion has been locked in a drawn-out pursuit of a unification fight against the undisputed champion Jon Jones. Despite his efforts, the highly anticipated fight seems more distant than ever.
After a prolonged build-up, Aspinall finally revealed a long-term partnership with the sportswear brand Champion, including the launch of his signature collection. He also shared a hopeful note about his ongoing quest for undisputed gold. However, for some fans, this announcement fell flat.
Tom Aspinall Unveils Major Endorsement Deal with Champion
Tom Aspinall has announced a major move outside of the Octagon this evening, but it is not a fight. However, it is a high-profile endorsement deal with the sportswear giant Champion. This includes the launch of his signature apparel line. The partnership marks a significant step into the mainstream for the UFC interim heavyweight champion, aligning him with a global brand beyond the UFC’s typical sponsorships.
As part of the campaign rollout, Tom Aspinall has dropped a subtle hint about a potential unification fight later this year. In promotional content Aspinall said;
“This game will test everything—your body, your mind, your patience.”
He followed that with a bold declaration:
“This is the year of the undisputed champion,”
This has fueled the speculation that a showdown with Jon Jones may still be on the horizon.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Champion, a brand with global reach and deep roots in sport,”
Tom Aspinall said in a press release:
“Champion’s values really reflect who I am and what I want to achieve in MMA.”
“I’ve always believed I could help bring MMA further into the mainstream. And we’re not just designing clothes—we’rebuilding gear that supports fighters and inspires the next generation. The timing couldn’t be better.”
“This is the year of the true undisputed champion—someone who stays authentic, dedicated to the craft, never turns down a challenge, and stays connected to the people who matter most: the fans.”
Aspinall Clarifies: “Not Fight News”—But Fans Still Frustrated by Announcement
Leading up to his 6 pm (UK time) announcement, Tom Aspinall took to his Instagram Stories to repeatedly clarify that he would not be revealing any fight news this evening. Emphasizing that it is the UFC, not him who announces his fights, he shared both a personal message and a series of comments he had made over the past few days to try and manage fan expectations.
“As I said when it was first posted, I DO NOT ANNOUNCE MY FIGHT NEWS,” he wrote, alongside a screenshot of a comment stating, “UFC announce my fights guys, not me.”
Tom Aspinall would then follow this up with more screenshots, including one reply to TNT Sports UFC where he plainly stated:
“Guys. It’s not fight news.”
In another, he reiterated, “I have said multiple times. THIS IS NOT A FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT. Wish it was.”
Despite his repeated warnings, many of his fans were still left frustrated, flooding social media with disappointed reactions. Posts on X included comments like:
“Nah man. This ain’t it,” and “We cannot be serious.”
Some fans would then go on and criticise Aspinall’s approach to hyping a potential fight with Jon Jones, with one fan saying:
“He’s not talking enough trash to Jones. Aspinall sounds like a crazy ex who wants attention instead of selling a fight.”
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
