Will Tom Aspinall Fight Again? UFC Heavyweight Champ’s Eye Injury Update

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall's recent struggles with injury and surgeries highlighted by popular journalist.

Will Tom Aspinall Fight Again? UFC Heavyweight Champ’s Eye Injury Update

Tom Aspinall eye injury update (via MSN)

In Short
  • Tom Aspinall's first title defense ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke during UFC 321.
  • He has been diagnosed with traumatic bilateral Brown’s syndrome, affecting his eye movement and coordination.
  • Reports suggest Aspinall may vacate his title to pursue boxing opportunities while recovering from his injury.

Tom Aspinall was expected to restore dominance to the UFC heavyweight division after becoming champion. However, his first title defense ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke that abruptly halted that narrative. Now, nearly five months after his last appearance, Irish journalist Petesy Carroll has provided detailed new insights into the British champion’s life and recovery since the injury.

Aspinall faced Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in his first heavyweight title defense. The bout was officially ruled a no-contest after Gane’s fingers went knuckle deep into Aspinall’s eyes, forcing the champion to stop. This led referee Jason Herzog to halt the action and declare the fight a no-contest at the 4:35 mark of the opening round. The crowd inside the Etihad Arena responded with boos following the abrupt finish.

Since the incident, Aspinall has undergone multiple treatments for his eye after being diagnosed with traumatic bilateral Brown’s syndrome, a rare condition that affects eye movement and coordination, along with ongoing visual defects. Carroll revealed that Aspinall has been dealing with motor and sensory issues, including balance disruption, motion sensitivity, and difficulty tracking movement, since the injury.

Nearly four months later, the champ still can’t track moving targets. His eyes hurt if he sends too many text messages. He gets vertigo if he changes directions suddenly. He misses people’s hands when he tries to shake them. He can no longer do the thing that’s given him an identity since he was a child. Hell, he struggles to do the most basic drills. Sometimes, he struggles to play with his kids. He has to ask people to drive him to most places he goes and ask those same people to bring him home afterward.

Petesy Carroll via Uncrowned Combat

Aspinall recently underwent surgery on both eyes and shared a photo showing them visibly bloodshot red after the procedure. Carroll reported that he had been on heavy medication beforehand, using nearly 32 prescribed eye drops per day. The operation took place at Optegra Eye Hospital in Manchester under the care of Dr. Shafiq Rehman, who explained the surgical process and the expected recovery timeline.

What we need to know is that the optical numbers are stable, Obviously, Tom’s had quite a serious injury. It was a significant eye poke that led to a few different issues. He also has visual field defects. You know how sometimes you’ll see something move out of the corner of your eye? Aspinall can’t do that. It’s too blurry.

Dr Shafiq Rehman told Petesy Carroll

Carroll revealed that Aspinall has been dealing with a persistent black spot blocking vision in one eye since the injury. He compared the situation to Aspinall’s 2023 knee injury suffered in his first bout against Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall explained that the knee issue was manageable when inactive, but the eye injury has been significantly worse, causing constant irritation and disturbances throughout his waking hours.

The Irish journalist also revealed that he met former WBA champion Stipe Drviš, a key member of Aspinall’s training. Drviš stated that while the heavyweight champion still retains his punching power, his balance has been significantly affected. He further noted that Aspinall’s visits to the Warrington gym have become irregular in recent months and that there has been a noticeable change in his demeanor.

Tom Aspinall has acknowledged the toll the setback has taken on both his career momentum and daily life. He recently emphasized that modern MMA operates largely as a business-driven industry, where competitive timelines often outweigh individual well-being. The injury has undoubtedly forced one of the sport’s kindest and most respectful champions to endure an extended period of hardship.

MMA veteran makes shocking claims about Tom Aspinall’s UFC future

It has been several months since Tom Aspinall suffered his eye injury at UFC 321, an incident that halted his first title defense and placed the heavyweight division in further uncertainty. His absence has added to an already turbulent stretch for the UFC’s premier weight class, which has struggled for sustained stability in recent years. The division has not seen a dominant reign since Stipe Miocic’s title run concluded in 2021.

Tom Aspinall
Tom Aspinall (via Fighters Only)

Aspinall had ambitious long-term plans after being promoted from interim to undisputed champion following Jon Jones’ retirement. He aimed to revive a consistent, activity-driven era at the top of the UFC heavyweight division and reestablish stability. However, that outlook now appears increasingly uncertain following recent revelations from former UFC lightweight Josh Thomson about Aspinall’s future.

Reports are out that the UFC asked Tom Aspinall to vacate the title until he was ready to go, and he said he’ll be ready to vacate the title as long as they release him. Now that opens the door so he can go ahead and box. This is a really weird situation.

Josh Thomson via X

While Josh Thomson’s comments offer no official confirmation, they align with earlier indications that Tom Aspinall had considered entering professional boxing to pursue financial opportunities outside MMA. His father, Andy Aspinall, has previously expressed interest in his son pursuing boxing for potentially higher paydays, adding another layer of uncertainty to his long-term direction.

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