UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has secured a partnership with American sportswear brand Champion, further expanding his commercial footprint across multiple industries.
Announced today (May 28), the collaboration includes his debut capsule named HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.
Created in collaboration with Aspinall, the range features performance-focused apparel alongside lifestyle-inspired designs, including Champion’s signature Reverse Weave hoodie. The collection aims to use elements reflecting Aspinall’s fighting style, such as a timestamp marking the average duration of his professional bouts: 00.02.02
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Champion, a brand with global reach and deep roots in sport,” said Aspinall.
“Champion’s values really reflect who I am and what I want to do in MMA. I’ve always said I believe I can transcend the sport into the mainstream. And we’re not just creating gear – we’re making apparel that works for fighters and inspires the next generation.”
Beyond the capsule collection, Aspinall has provided insights to help Champion develop a new line of training apparel and equipment, aiming to ensure the product functions properly and is tailored to elite fighters.
“We’re incredibly excited to announce our long-term partnership with Tom and Team Aspinall. Champion has a proud heritage that stretches back generations, and in Tom, we’ve found not only an elite athlete at the top of his game, but a truly exceptional human being,” said Lorenzo Moretti, Champion EMEA President.
“His values, professionalism, and ability to inspire those around him perfectly reflect what Champion stands for. We’ve been thoroughly impressed by Tom and his team from day one, and we look forward to working closely together to shape the future of combat product for Champion — developing next-generation training apparel and equipment informed by the insights of the best athletes in the sport.”
Aspinall’s rising commercial stock
The 32-year-old UFC heavyweight champion has rapidly become a fan favourite not just among UFC enthusiasts but across the wider combat sports community. His growing popularity has led to multiple commercial partnerships, expanding his presence beyond the Octagon.
In March, Aspinall became an ambassador for SPRIBE, a casino gaming software developer. This move saw him join fellow UFC athletes Alex Pereira, Johnny Walker and Merab Dvalishvili in promoting SPRIBE’s popular crash game, Aviator.
As part of the deal, Aspinall will feature in several marketing campaigns aimed at engaging fight fans.
Like many modern athletes, Aspinall actively maintains a strong social media presence, a crucial factor in securing high-profile pay-per-view fights.
While his impressive record and highlight-reel knockouts naturally keep him in the spotlight, he has also collaborated with influencers and social media personalities to further boost his visibility.
One of his most well-known segments involves kicking celebrity guests in the leg at different levels of strength, testing whether they can withstand the impact – spoiler alert: they never do.
Aspinall and his team have also leveraged social media effectively, as seen in his May 26 Instagram post, teasing his partnership with Champion: “Heavyweight news. Coming soon.”
While the announcement turned out to be his deal with Champion, many fans had speculated it could be a fight announcement against Jon Jones.
Regardless, Aspinall believes the timing of this partnership is ideal.
“This is the year of the true undisputed champion,” he said. “Someone who stays true to themself, dedicated to the sport, never says no to a fight and connects with the people who matter: the fans.”
