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Dana White pessimistic about Tom Aspinall returning in 2026: 'Just keep rolling'

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Dana White pessimistic about Tom Aspinall returning in 2026: 'Just keep rolling'

UFC CEO Dana White isn't confident in Tom Aspinall returning to the Octagon anytime soon as he recovers from his eye injuries.

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains sidelined after multiple eye injuries suffered against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 last year. Just minutes into their UFC 321 title fight, multiple accidental eye pokes from Gane led to the fight being ruled a no contest, as Aspinall retained his heavyweight title in an undesirable fashion.

As of this writing, Aspinall remains sidelined after undergoing multiple eye surgeries to repair his vision in both eyes. During his hiatus, Gane won the interim heavyweight title by finishing former two-division champ Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June.

Immediately after UFC 321, Aspinall expressed disdain for how UFC CEO Dana White responded to his injuries against Gane. White later went on to clarify that he felt that Aspinall wasn't taking the easy way out, and wished him well with his recovery.

Almost a year removed from UFC 321, Aspinall added Matchroom CEO Eddie Hearn to his management team, one of White's biggest enemies in boxing. With no known timetable for Aspinall to be medically cleared to fight, White is prepared to keep the heavyweight division moving.

Dana White mum on Tom Aspinall's UFC future as heavyweight division ‘keeps rolling'

During a recent post-fight press conference, White was asked about Aspinall's future and an update on his UFC return.

“Tom Aspinall is hurt. Until we hear differently, the heavyweight division will just keep rolling,†White said of Aspinall. (h/t MMA Junkie)

White didn't specify whether or not Gane will fight another opponent during Aspinall's absence, or if Gane will wait it out for Aspinall to return.

Aspinall's ongoing hiatus adds to what's been a rocky last few years in the UFC heavyweight division. After Jon Jones' abrupt 2025 retirement and Aspinall's promotion to undisputed champ, the division has lacked continuity in 2026.

Should the UFC strip Tom Aspinall of his title? Share your thoughts in the comments!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


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MMA

Regina Tarin asked God for a sign; then the UFC called

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Regina Tarin asked God for a sign; then the UFC called
Regina
Tarin feels divine intervention led her to pursue a
professional mixed martial arts career.

Tarin (8-0) tried professional boxing and even considered a
pro-wrestling career before an opportunity in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship presented itself. She is
scheduled to fight J.J. Aldrich
(15-7) at
Noche UFC 4 on Sept. 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale,
Arizona, in her second Octagon appearance.

Regina Tarin explains how WWE tryouts and a three-day UFC offer
changed her career

Tarin was scheduled to fight on
Dana White's Contender Series last year. However, the bout was
canceled and she then got a call from the WWE soon after. Tarin
participated in their tryouts this past January, and while she was
almost set on a WWE career, she asked God if she had chosen the
right career path.

The undefeated Mexican then got a call from the UFC to make a debut
on three days' notice. That was the moment that Tarin knew she was
destined for MMA. “Kill Bill†defeated Ernesta
Kareckaite via unanimous decision in her UFC debut this past
February.

“I had a Contender Series fight that got canceled and WWE called
me,†Tarin told Full Send MMA. “I thought, ‘OK, maybe [MMA] is not
my sport; I can try WWE.' But spoke to God and said, ‘Please tell
me if I chose the correct sport.' Then UFC called me on three days'
notice. That's the exact moment when I thought MMA is for me.â€

Tarin has finished six of her eight pro wins so far. The
21-year-old is a -250 favorite going into her bout against Aldrich,
who is on a two-fight winning streak.

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MMA

Security breaks up heated hotel run-in between undefeated UFC rivals

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Security breaks up heated hotel run-in between undefeated UFC rivals
Security had to separate Tommy
McMillen and Marwan
Rahiki during their run-in at the fighter hotel days before
their clash.

McMillen (11-0) and Rahiki (9-0) are set to collide in a highly
anticipated matchup of undefeated
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweights at
Noche UFC 4 on Sept. 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale,
Arizona.

Tommy McMillen details altercation with Marwan Rahiki before
Noche UFC 4

Bad blood is brewing between the two unbeaten 145-pounder prospects
and they've taken several shots at one another before fight week.
McMillen previously said he's ready to brawl with Rahiki in a
parking lot and doubts whether the Moroccan would be ready to do
the same.

The American now claims to have already had a run-in with Rahiki
inside an elevator at the fighter hotel. McMillen says he was with
his brother and his striking coach when he met Rahiki, who had
eight teammates with him.

“I popped up here in the elevator and that's the first kid I saw,â€
McMillen said at Noche UFC 4 media day. “He was there with eight of
his teammates and I'm sitting here with my little brother Jono and
my striking coach, JJ. I got right in his face; he tried to touch
me, I pushed him right out of my face. I told him he looks like a
scrawny little b*tch, Saturday night I'm gonna make him look like
my little brother… Security had to break it up. I don't like that
kid; he doesn't like me. He thinks it's all fun and games. I'm the
kid that would actually fight this kid in a parking lot. He's not
like that at all; he's a p*ssy. I'd assume he's not stupid enough
to think this is an act. I kind of just punked him in the elevator
with eight of his friends and showed him it's not an act. I'll
fight him in front of his whole f*cking team. This kid's not on the
same level as me.â€

Footage of the altercation shows both parties trading barbs and
gently shoving each other while officials try to separate them.
Both McMillen and Rahiki have two finishes each in as many UFC
outings. While McMillen has finished 10 of his 11 career wins,
Rahiki has never seen the judges' scorecards in his nine career
wins.


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MMA

UFC fighter says he cant see opponents clearly until they get close

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UFC fighter says he can't see opponents clearly until they get close
Kurtis
Campbell can't see his opponents clearly inside the
Octagon.

Campbell wears considerably thick-lensed glasses when out of
competition. The Liverpool native seems to be heavily dependent on
them, putting them back on immediately after his fights. Campbell
recently revealed that his eyesight is poor and that his opponents
appear blurry to him until they get close.

Kurtis Campbell explains why his UFC opponents appear blurry
across the Octagon

While Campbell tried contact lenses when he was young, he was too
nervous to put them in. The
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight eventually got
used to fighting without contact lenses and prefers it this way
now.

“My eyesight is really bad, but at the same time I love my
glasses,†Campbell told Ariel Helwani. “I would never change them…
I tried contacts when I was younger, but I was always too nervous;
I couldn't put them in. So, I got used to fighting without them and
I don't think I've ever gone back since. I've always preferred it
that way… Because of how big the UFC cage is, [my opponent] is
blurry and then once we get closer, it gets a little better.â€

Campbell (9-1) earned his UFC contract with a first-round technical
knockout win on
Dana White's Contender Series last year. He then suffered a
knockout loss to Danny Silva
in his UFC debut in London this past March. “The Pink Pantherâ€
rebounded with a dominant submission win over Trevor Peek
at
UFC Paris.

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