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It is safe to say that a UFC champion serves as the face of their division and is expected to welcome any and all challengers for their belt. 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 sparked mixed reactions, including disapproval from UFC CEO Dana White, who believes champions should defend their belts against anyone.
Dana White Disapproves of Tom Aspinall’s Choice but Leaves Decision in His Hands
At UFC 321, Aspinall is set to 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 belt. The Englishman will face Ciryl Gane in Abu Dhabi, his first fight in 14 months.
If Aspinall defeats the Frenchman, a showdown with his friend and training partner could soon be on the table, as Delija is already #9 on the official 265lbs rankings. The 35-year-old made a stunning debut at UFC Paris Fight Night, knocking out Marcin Tybura to catapult 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 cageside that night, was visibly emotional watching his friend triumph. When asked if he would ever consider fighting Delija, the champion made his stance crystal clear.
During an appearance on the ShxtsnGigs podcast, he said, “The thing is, if I’d never won a title, [if] I’d never touched gold before, I’d be like: ‘We have to fight. But now I’ve done it, I’d be like: ‘I’ll vacate it, and he can have his time. I wouldn’t fight him. No chance, no chance. He’s one of my genuine friends, I would never… There’s some stuff to me that’s more important than money and titles.”
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Tom Aspinall says he’d rather vacate the title than fight his friend Ante Delija 🤝😳
“My friend [Ante Delija] just got his first win in the UFC, and he’s in the top 10. He’s potentially 2–3 wins away from a title shot. If I’d never won a title, I would feel like we would have… pic.twitter.com/tYai3aa3Rd
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 12, 2025
However, Aspinall’s comments didn’t sit well with White, who believes champions should defend their belts against anyone, regardless of personal relationships. Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of UFC 321, White shared his frustration, saying, “You know what I think about that. I hate that.”
He continued, “Many friends, relatives – name it – have all fought each other before. It doesn’t [matter] whether you are friends with somebody or you hate somebody; you’re competing with them to see who the best is.”
Still, the UFC head honcho made it clear that the final call rests with the champion himself. “But that’s his decision. To even think about vacating it because you don’t want to compete against somebody is absolutely insane, but he’s a grown man. That’s up to him.”
“I hate that” — Dana White isn’t a fan of Tom saying he’d vacate the belt for his friend Ante Delija 💬🥊🤝
🎥: @ufcontnt pic.twitter.com/Sy81MALTAk
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 24, 2025
For those unaware, this isn’t the first time White has criticized a fighter for refusing to face a close friend. The UFC CEO previously called out reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili for declining to fight his longtime teammate Aljamain Sterling when Sterling held the 135-pound title, despite Dvalishvili being the clear No. 1 contender at the time.
It was only after Sterling lost the belt to Sean O’Malley at UFC 288 that Dvalishvili agreed to pursue gold himself, eventually becoming one of the most dominant bantamweights in UFC history. As for Aspinall, he’s gearing up for his long-awaited return to the Octagon after a 14-month layoff.
The Englishman last competed in July 2024, when he made the rare decision to defend his interim title and delivered a stunning first-round knockout over Curtis Blaydes in Manchester. Now set to face 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, considering he’s already dismantled top contenders like Alexander Volkov and Sergei Pavlovich in the past.
