Tom Aspinall Gives a Positive Update on UFC Return While Naming His Next Opponent

Tom Aspinall has shared a glowing update about his recovery while also revealing the identity of his next UFC heavyweight title challenger.

Tom Aspinall Gives a Positive Update on UFC Return While Naming His Next Opponent

Tom Aspinall provides an update on his return and next opponent [via British GQ]

In Short
  • Tom Aspinall is recovering well from his eye injury and expects to be cleared for contact training soon.
  • He plans to fight the winner of the upcoming interim title match between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.
  • Aspinall's relationship with the UFC has improved after a difficult period following his last fight.

Tom Aspinall has not fought in the UFC since an eye injury sidelined him in his first undisputed title defense at UFC 321. But the wait seems to be over now. The Englishman has provided a positive update on his return and also revealed who he may fight upon his return.

The UFC heavyweight champion has not had an easy go of things since his last fight. The eye poke inflicted by Ciryl Gane was serious enough for Aspinall to require surgery. Moreover, the 33-year-old’s relationship with the promotion has also been in shambles since that incident.

However, things are seemingly getting better now. On his social media, Tom Aspinall revealed that things are going well in his recovery and that he should be sparring soon. He also revealed that the UFC has informed him about his next fight.

Things are progressing nicely, which I’m very happy about. They’re saying pretty soon, if things keep moving in the right direction, I will be cleared for contact…Everyone keeps asking when I’m going to fight. The obvious answer is the other two guys, Alex [Pereira] and Ciryl [Gane], have to fight for the interim title. I’m obviously going to fight the winner. The UFC have told me that I’m fighting the winner. First and foremost, I have to get my health right, which is on the right track.

Tom Aspinall via his YouTube channel

After being on the shelf since October, the Englishman may finally have some respite. Even so, it isn’t like Tom Aspinall was sitting around during his long recovery.

As his relationship with the UFC soured, the heavyweight champion signed a deal with Dana White‘s sworn rival, Eddie Hearn. The English promoter even claimed that Aspinall didn’t want to return to the UFC after the events of UFC 321 and the subsequent backlash.

Nonetheless, it seems all that is behind Tom Aspinall now as he looks to make a swift return from his eye injury. However, Aspinall may not be as willing to let go of his grudge against Ciryl Gane, the man he has labelled a “dirty fighter”. This is in light of the Frenchman’s recent comments.

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Ciryl Gane fires back at Tom Aspinall by downplaying eye poke

Ciryl Gane is set to fight Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight championship in the White House at UFC Freedom 250. This will be the Frenchman’s 5th opportunity to fight for a UFC title. But it seems he has not gotten over what happened during his last title shot.

Tom Aspinall gets eye poked against Ciryl Gane
Tom Aspinall gets eye poked against Ciryl Gane (via X)

‘Bon Gamin’ reflected on the incidents of UFC 321 with RMC Sport Combat as he expressed his anger at Tom Aspinall for being unable to continue. Gane believes Aspinall overdid it with his reaction to the eypoke in the UFC 321 main event. The Frenchman even questioned Aspinall’s fans’ support during the situation, claiming the Englishman’s communication strategy was terrible.

Sometimes it’s better not to say anything. These things happen… He said so many things and spent so much time trying to accuse me of who knows what, it just didn’t make sense anymore at a certain point.

Ciryl Gane via RMC Sport Combat

It seems Gane blames Aspinall for their no-contest in Abu Dhabi back in October last year. Of course, Aspinall, the recipient of the eyepokes, blames the Frenchman, even posting a highlight reel of Gane’s fouls.

In order to settle this rivalry, however, Gane will need to defeat Alex Pereira. To that end, Gane has employed the help of the last man to beat ‘Poatan’ in a kickboxing ring, Artem Vakhitov. His new sparring partner thinks the Frenchman has what it takes to beat the Brazilian. However, only the events of UFC Freedom 250 will tell if that is the case.

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