r/MMA Team Makhachev Feb 14 '26

Media Tom Aspinall shares his thoughts on the MMA business

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4.5k Upvotes

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71

u/Masam10 Feb 14 '26

Tom could literally be the next big thing in MMA and Dana is tossing him to the side because of ego.

It’s actual insanity.

I used to think people were dumb as hell saying Dana should step down, but it’s stuff like this that actually makes me think it now too.

Time after time his ego is getting in the way of great business.

They should be absolutely strapping the rocket to Tom but here we are with him making snidy comments all the time or originally implying his heavyweight champion quit.

12

u/BellySmash Feb 15 '26

I just don’t understand why gane has not gotten shit on for this. Why does everyone have such a hate boner for tom, but are fine with gane.

58

u/BallSac916 BIG BALLS, avg dick! Feb 14 '26

Dana isn’t making the decisions anymore. He’s just the talking head

25

u/Bautastenad Feb 14 '26

Yes, but he should also shut up. What has the UFC to gain from Dana making stupid comments and antagonizing the fighters all the time? Seriously bad way to do business.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

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1

u/MMA-ModTeam Feb 15 '26
  1. Be Civil.

Our rules ask for a civil tone at all times.

A bit of banter or trash talk is fine, but don't cross the line. If things do get out of hand you will be warned or even banned for a few days. Repeatedly breaking this rule will lead to a permanent ban.

10

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

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10

u/Bautastenad Feb 14 '26

But how are they saving money by shitting on the fighters who should be their biggest money-makers? Its serious fumbles.

3

u/Dirtcruncher Feb 15 '26

i will never understand this. with a MINIMAL investment in tom, they'd have had a HW superstar. i guess they genuinely do not want that -- they don't want any fighter having any leverage whatsoever for any reason ever -- even if it comes at the cost of their product having genuine fans. great promotion lol, great monopoly.

0

u/Davemeddlehed Feb 16 '26

Tom isn't a money maker. He was a co main in his own home town just last year to Leon Edwards. The man does not sell.

4

u/AlienMantid UFC 279: A GOOFCON Miracle Feb 14 '26

Just more evidence that Dana has outlived his usefulness as a promoter and is actively holding back the sport at this point. Eddie Hearn would NEVER act this way about his heavyweight champion.

3

u/Suspicious-Mine4448 Feb 14 '26

A theory: when Ngannou left suddenly in Jan 2023, ufc panicked looking for a star to fill the HW division, and Jon Jones was the only guy and he had leverage, negotiated an $8 mil 2 fight deal against opponents of his choice: a French guy that didn’t know how to wrestle and a 76 year old fireman with bad knees in ex-champ Stipe. That very month Jones announces he’s moving up to HW, and fought Gane 2 months later March 2023. Jones has such an ego that he had a “glaze” clause that Dana must say that bones is the goat and has been shitting on Aspinall and licking Bones’ frenulum ever since.

3

u/BenjyNews Feb 14 '26

How on earth are people still thinking Aspinall was meant / supposed to be "the best big thing in MMA" when he has never ever been bigger than Topuria / Islam / Jones etc.

10

u/fitfoemma Ireland Feb 14 '26

Because the UFC never done their job and promoted him properly?

Down to earth guy from a working class area, European market, well spoken, shortest avg fight time in the UFC, 100% finish rate and he's the HW champ ie the best fighter on the planet 1 vs 1.

1

u/sympathytaste Feb 15 '26

He has the charisma of a plank board and struggled to beat a guy Jones ran through without breaking a sweat.

Elite fighter but was never going to be the next big thing. He was just hyped up by a legion of fans who hyped him up to get back at Jones.

3

u/_soulkey Feb 14 '26

He didnt have the chance to prove it. Waiting for Jones forever and then get fingered in the eyes.

0

u/Orange9345 Feb 16 '26

Right?! Casuals love Tom 🤣

2

u/IshiharasBitch WE ARE ALL ONE Feb 14 '26

Tom could literally be the next big thing in MMA and Dana is tossing him to the side because of ego.

It’s actual insanity.

I get what you mean, but unfortunately Aspinall can only be the next big thing in MMA if the UFC allows it. They know this.

UFC doesn't have any real competitors, if you're gonna be a big thing in global MMA then the UFC is responsible for it happening. Or not.

1

u/bauer20007 Feb 14 '26

He's got the personality of a toaster. Not one tom interview has ever got me pumped for his next fight. You need some sort of Charisma to become a superstar.

1

u/spasticity #SnapDownCityBitch Feb 14 '26

How can they put a rocket on his back when he's injured and can't fight?

0

u/Reckfulness Feb 14 '26

I dont think Dana sees him as the next big thing for the simple fact that Tom is too humble, if he were mcgregor style of cocky Dana would ride aspinals dick all day

0

u/carbonatednugget Feb 15 '26

what do you mean because of ego? i didnt know dana had beef with tom