Dana White: Match Tom Aspinall would ‘100%’ be preventing Alex Pereira on UFC White Home card

UFC president Dana White has mentioned Tom Aspinall would “100%” have been set to battle Alex Pereira on the White Home this weekend had he not been injured.

Pereira (13-3) will face Ciryl Gane (13-2) within the UFC Freedom 250 co-main occasion [Monday morning BST] for the interim heavyweight title.

Brit Aspinall (15-3) hasn’t fought since he suffered a critical eye harm towards Gane final October. He has undergone a number of surgical procedures and a timeframe for his return stays up within the air.

Whereas the heavyweight contest between Pereira and Gane on the White Home occasion will likely be for the suitable to face Aspinall when he does return, White has informed TNT Sports Aspinall would have featured had he not been injured.

“100% that will have been the battle if he was [fit],” White mentioned.

“A number of our champions are harm proper now. There’s numerous issues it’s a must to cope with once you’re making these matches with timing and the whole lot else occurring in everyone’s life. However yeah, it might have been Tom.”

Whereas Aspinall’s speedy future stays unclear, his supervisor Eddie Hearn informed reporters final week that the UFC didn’t lengthen an invite to the heavyweight champion to attend the White Home occasion.

Hearn additionally mentioned that he would advise Aspinall towards preventing the winner of Pereira vs. Gane beneath the present circumstances of his cope with the UFC.

“I am not going to let Tom Aspinall battle for the type of cash that is in his contract,” Hearn informed reporters. “To be concerned in a battle towards Pereira or Gane for actually 1/fiftieth of the income of that present, f— that. I will not let him do it. It is time these UFC fighters cease being mugs and begin to perceive that these individuals are benefiting from them. They deserve higher.

“My recommendation to Tom Aspinall will likely be, ‘Do not you dare take that battle for the cash that is in your contract.'”

Building for the UFC White Home occasion is taking form, whereas a federal lawsuit has been filed in a bid to halt the showpiece going forward.