Copyright GIVEMESPORT
Tom Aspinall's friend and training partner, Ante Delija, risks invoking the wrath of UFC boss Dana White over new comments he's made regarding the British slugger, the fouls he received from Ciryl Gane, and the general UFC heavyweight championship landscape. The UFC promoted Aspinall, an interim titleholder, to full UFC champion after the former ruler, Jon Jones, seemingly preferred retirement than actually fight the clear No.1 challenger to his claim to the throne. In Aspinall's first defense, he collided with Ciryl Gane atop the UFC 321 pay-per-view card at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on the 25th of October. But the bout didn't even last a round as the Frenchman's lingering fingers poked both of Aspinall's eyes, compromising his vision, and forcing a No Contest. Not everyone has been sympathetic toward Aspinall. White shrugged it off to reporters, implying Aspinall didn't want to continue, rather than couldn't continue. And Jones has continued to mercilessly troll Aspinall's situation. Now, Delija has had his say. And he also made comments regarding the UFC title picture that will no doubt leave White irate. Speaking through a translator during a midweek media day in which UFC Fight Night competitors addressed the press ahead of Saturday's event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Delija said he didn't understand how Aspinall attracted more heat from Gane's foul than Bon Gamin himself. “I had 33 fights and I never poked somebody in the eye, and I do believe the punishment for that should be severe.” He continued: “I think he did a great job with not continuing. If more fighters do the same thing, I think we can prevent the same thing from happening again.” White told reporters after UFC 321 that a heavyweight rematch made sense for the fighters involved and the business as a whole. However, despite Gane's strong start, Delija doubts he's able to get the win in a do-over, and picks his friend to get revenge. “Tom is a better fighter in general … so I believe he’s going to win definitely in the next fight.” The reaction to the foul was not the only thing White seemed to criticize Aspinall for. The 32-year-old indicated to GIVE ME SPORT earlier this year that he'd happily face anyone that the UFC matches him against, however, he elaborated on this more recently to suggest he'd never lay hands on Delija. "I hate that," White said to TNT Sports. "Many friends, relatives, you name it, have all fought each other before. You're competing against them to see who the best is, but that's his decision." "To even think about vacating [the belt] because you don't want to compete against somebody is absolutely insane." But Aspinall is not the only "absolutely insane" one. “He is really, really dear friend of mine and I do believe with that statement he really showed his character,” Delija said, regarding Aspinall's apparent refusal to fight him. “I would also not fight against him for the belt.”
