UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall’s advisor Eddie Hearn has revealed that the star will need to undergo additional tests before being cleared to make a comeback to the Octagon.

“The only thing we have to look at is when Tom Aspinall will be ready to return,” Hearn told reporters this week regarding his return to the UFC. “And that’s not when he will be ready to return from a mindset perspective, that’s from a commission perspective in terms of his injury. And that shows you what he’s been through, because if the commission won’t let him fight, you know how serious the injuries were. I’m not saying that’s the case, I’m saying that’s the position we need to get to, to return to the ring.

“He’s motivated. I can’t give you an exact date yet, but what I can tell you is he wants to get back in there as soon as he’s physically able to do so.”

Hearn was then asked specifically if Aspinall might be ready to return by UFC 334 in NYC on November 14th, which he didn’t confirm or deny.

“Well, Maybe. It all depends whether he would be ready,” Hearn replied. “He’s training. Like, I think he’s going to have to go through some additional testing to make sure he’s good to return, but he wants to fight.”

Regardless of whether he does or not though, Hearn says Aspinall is still doing well financially while he remains on the sidelines.

“He’s making a lot of money,” Hearn said. “And you know what’s unbelievable? Let me tell you how much money Tom Aspinall’s doing. He won’t mind me saying this. I had a deal for him the other day, a six-figure deal where he had to do basically F*** all, and he went, ‘Nah, I’ll leave that one.’ I went, ‘Oh my god! We have spoiled you!'”