It’s safe to say that a UFC champion is the face of their division and is expected to welcome all challengers for their title. However, personal relationships can sometimes complicate that duty, with some fighters unwilling to step into the Octagon against close friends. That’s exactly the case with reigning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who recently admitted he would refuse to fight his training partner Ante Delija even if the Croatian became the No. 1 contender for the heavyweight title. Aspinall’s revelation has drawn mixed reactions, including disapproval from UFC CEO Dana White, who believes champions should defend their titles against anyone.
Dana White disapproves of Tom Aspinall’s choice, but leaves the decision in his hands
At UFC 321, Aspinall will make his first defense of the undisputed heavyweight title, having been promoted from interim champion earlier this year after Jon Jones retired and vacated the title. The Englishman will face Ciryl Gane in Abu Dhabi, his first fight in 14 months.
If Aspinall beats the Frenchman, a showdown with his friend and training partner could soon be on the table, as Delija is already #9 in the official 265-pound rankings. The 35-year-old made a stunning debut at UFC Paris Fight Night, knocking out Marcin Tybura and catapulting himself straight into the heavyweight top 10.
The Croatian even earned a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts. Aspinall, who was in the cage that night, was visibly emotional as he watched his friend triumph. When asked if he would ever consider fighting Delija, the champion made his stance crystal clear.
During a performance on the ShxtsnGigs podcasthe said, “The thing is, if I had never won a title, [if] I had never touched gold before, I was like, ‘We have to fight. But now that I’ve done it, I’d say, ‘I’ll leave it, and he can have his time. I wouldn’t fight him. No chance, no chance. He is one of my true friends, I would never… There are things more important to me than money and titles.”
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Tom Aspinall says he’d rather give up the title than fight his friend Ante Delija 🤝😳
‘My friend [Ante Delija] He just got his first win in the UFC and he’s in the top 10. He’s possibly 2-3 wins away from a title shot. If I had never won a title, I would feel like we… pic.twitter.com/tYai3aa3Rd
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 12, 2025
However, Aspinall’s comments did not go down well with White, who believes champions should defend their titles against anyone, regardless of personal relationships. Speak with TNT Sports Ahead of UFC 321, White shared his frustration, saying: “You know how I feel about that. I hate that.”
He continued, “A lot of friends, family members – you name it – they’ve all fought each other before [matter] whether you are friends with someone or hate someone; you compete with them to see who is the best.
Still, the UFC CEO made it clear that the final decision lies with the champion himself. “But that’s his decision. To even think about leaving it because you don’t want to compete against someone is absolutely insane, but he’s a grown man. That’s up to him.”
“I hate that” – Dana White is not a fan of Tom saying he would leave the belt for his friend Ante Delija 💬🥊🤝
🎥: @ufcontnt pic.twitter.com/Sy81MALTAc
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 24, 2025
For those who don’t know, this isn’t the first time White has criticized a fighter for refusing to face a close friend. The UFC CEO before exclaimed reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili for refusing to fight his old teammate Aljamain Sterling when Sterling held the 135-pound title, despite Dvalishvili being the clear No. 1 contender at the time.
It wasn’t until Sterling lost the title to Sean O’Malley at UFC 288 that Dvalishvili agreed to pursue gold himself, ultimately becoming one of the most dominant bantamweights in UFC history. As for Aspinall, he is gearing up for his long-awaited return to the Octagon after a fourteen-month layoff.
The Englishman last competed in July 2024, when he made the rare decision to defend his interim title and delivered a stunning performance. first round knockout against Curtis Blaydes in Manchester. Now taking on Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, Aspinall looks to solidify his reign as undisputed heavyweight champion.
Should he get past Gane, it will be interesting to see who challenges him next, as he has defeated top contenders like Alexander Volkov and Sergei Pavlovich in the past.
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