Josh Hokit is not convinced that Tom Aspinall’s latest statement has cleared up the questions surrounding his UFC future. Aspinall recently denied rumors that he was leaving the promotion and said he remains in daily contact with UFC officials. Hokit, however, wants to know why those conversations are happening so frequently when Aspinall is already under contract. The heavyweight contender has even offered to fight the champion immediately, putting the focus back on what is actually delaying Aspinall’s return.
What Did Tom Aspinall Say About His UFC Future?
Tom Aspinall 15-3-0 responded directly on social media, making it clear that he has no plans to leave the UFC.
The speculation surrounding Aspinall intensified after reports and comments suggested that the heavyweight champion could be considering his future outside the UFC, adding to the questions around his UFC contract dispute.
The champion said he had never claimed he was leaving and rejected statements attributed to other people. He also revealed that he and the UFC are communicating daily and said the promotion would provide updates.
That appeared to settle the most serious part of the speculation.
But it also created another question.
If Aspinall is under contract and remains committed to the UFC, why are discussions about his next move happening every day?
That is exactly where Josh Hokit has challenged the heavyweight champion.
Josh Hokit Questions Aspinall’s Daily UFC Talks
Josh Hokit 10-0-0 took to X after Aspinall’s statement and focused specifically on the champion’s claim that he is speaking with the UFC every day.
The contender questioned who Aspinall meant when referring to “we” and argued that a lack of potential opponents cannot be the reason for the delay.
Hokit made his position clear: he would fight Aspinall immediately.
He also pointed to June as the month when Aspinall reportedly returned to training and ended his message by asking the champion to explain what is actually preventing the situation from moving forward.
“Tell us what the problem is, Tom.”
That line sums up Hokit’s position. He is not necessarily claiming that Aspinall is leaving the UFC. Instead, he is questioning why there is still so much uncertainty around the champion’s return.
Why Tom Aspinall’s Return Has Become Complicated
Aspinall has been out of action since his heavyweight title fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025.
The highly anticipated matchup ended after an accidental eye poke left Aspinall unable to continue. The UFC officially recorded the bout as a no contest, meaning Aspinall retained the heavyweight championship.
The injury subsequently required multiple surgeries, and neither Aspinall nor the UFC had announced a definitive return timetable when he issued his latest statement.
That lengthy absence is at the heart of the current frustration.
For a champion in the UFC’s heavyweight division, inactivity can quickly affect the entire title picture.
The division has already had to move forward without Aspinall, while Gane has positioned himself for another shot at the undisputed title.
Ciryl Gane Still Waits for the Heavyweight Title Fight
Ciryl Gane 14-2-0 remains an important part of the equation.
After the first meeting with Aspinall ended without a winner, Gane later captured the interim heavyweight championship by defeating Alex Pereira. That made a second meeting with Aspinall the obvious sporting solution once the champion is ready.
The UFC itself has previously described the heavyweight title picture as complicated, with Aspinall sidelined while other contenders fight to improve their positions.
This is where Hokit’s comments become particularly interesting.
He is effectively asking whether the heavyweight title situation needs to remain frozen while Aspinall works through whatever is delaying his comeback.
For readers following the division, the current UFC heavyweight rankings provide useful context on how the contenders are positioned around the champion.
Josh Hokit Is Putting Himself in the Conversation
Hokit is not a random name calling for a title opportunity.
He has become increasingly vocal about his place in the heavyweight division and has repeatedly shown interest in fighting the biggest names available.
That makes his latest challenge more strategic than it may initially appear.
If Aspinall returns and immediately faces Gane, Hokit could still be looking at another fight before entering the championship picture. But if the title situation remains unresolved, an active contender such as Hokit has an obvious incentive to keep his name attached to the conversation.
His comments also come at a time when the UFC heavyweight division is beginning to develop more depth. UFC president Dana White recently described the division as being on the rise after a period he considered somewhat stale, with Hokit among the newer names attracting attention.
Fans can also look back at Aspinall’s UFC record to understand why his return remains such an important storyline in the division.
What Happens Next for Tom Aspinall?
For now, the most important fact is simple: Tom Aspinall says he is not leaving the UFC.
The champion has also confirmed that discussions with the promotion are ongoing.
What remains unknown is when those discussions will produce an actual fight announcement.
Hokit has now added another layer of pressure by publicly questioning what is keeping the champion out of the Octagon. His willingness to fight Aspinall immediately also removes one obvious explanation for the delay at least from his perspective.
Aspinall’s eventual return is still expected to have major consequences for the heavyweight division, particularly with Gane holding the interim championship.
Until a date and opponent are officially confirmed, however, Hokit’s question will continue to hang over the situation.
Final Thoughts
Tom Aspinall has made it clear that he is not walking away from the UFC, but his latest statement has not completely removed the uncertainty surrounding his return. Josh Hokit’s challenge adds another layer to the situation, especially with the heavyweight division continuing to move forward without its champion.
For now, the biggest unanswered question is not whether Aspinall plans to leave. It is when he will return and what is keeping his next fight from being finalized. Until that answer arrives, Hokit’s challenge is likely to keep the conversation around Aspinall’s UFC future alive.
