Tom Aspinall releases statement refuting UFC departure rumors: ‘I’m not leaving’

Tom Aspinall is here to stay.

The UFC heavyweight champion released a statement Wednesday affirming his standing with the promotion, apparently reacting to social media rumors that he has relinquished his title and his time with the UFC has come to an end.

“I’m not leaving the UFC,” Aspinall wrote. “I’ve never said I have in any interview and any words that have been taken from others today are simply not true.”

See Aspinall’s statement below.

Aspinall’s status has been the cause of much speculation since his most recent fight at UFC 321 this past October. That event marked Aspinall’s first title defense as undisputed champion following the retir