'I Hate That' – Dana White Visibly Upset Over Champion Tom Aspinall’s Wild Claim

However, White has often emphasized that personal relationships should not interfere with professional commitments in the world of MMA. Back in 2023, White attempted to schedule a fight between Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili for the title despite their close friendship. Both fighters firmly refused to compete against each other, valuing their personal bond and mutual respect far above career opportunities. 

White was annoyed with the situation, calling it “a really bad idea” for a top contender to avoid a title shot. Ultimately, Aljo moved up, and Dvalishvili became the champion and has dominated the division. Tom Aspinall has also decided to do something similar if necessary, in order to avoid fighting Ante Delija.

Dana White is open to Tom Aspinall vs. Alex Pereira heavyweight superfight 

Recently, at UFC 320, Alex Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev to claim the light heavyweight championship for a second time. Following his victory, Pereira expressed his motivation to move up to the heavyweight division in pursuit of greater challenges. The Brazilian fighter called out former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones for a potential matchup at the upcoming White House event.

However, Dana White was displeased with Pereira’s decision, insisting he should first defend his light heavyweight championship more. White also acknowledged the potential financial benefits of the move, indicating discussions could occur given the lucrative opportunities for Pereira. In a recent interview, when asked about Pereira potentially fighting Tom Aspinall next, White responded positively.

Anything is possible. We’ll see how things play out Saturday and then the end of this year.

Dana White continued.

Aspinall’s rivalry with Alex Pereira began after the two met once, sparking discussions and interest in a potential future matchup. Since that encounter, the British fighter has frequently talked about facing the Brazilian, analyzing strategies to counter Pereira’s striking. While many fighters emphasized exchanging punches with Pereira, Tom Aspinall has consistently mentioned using his wrestling to gain an advantage.

However, in a recent interview, Aspinall clarified that he currently has no interest in fighting either Jon Jones or Pereira. He stated that his full focus was on his upcoming title fight, ensuring peak dominance inside the division. Nevertheless, the potential interactions and outcomes between Aspinall, Pereira, and Jones remain highly intriguing for fans.