Abu Dhabi – UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is scheduled to undergo surgery as he continues to recover from a rare and painful double eye poke suffered during his October fight against Ciryl Gane. The incident, which occurred at UFC 321, resulted in a no-contest after Aspinall was unable to continue.
A Painful Setback for the New Champion
The unexpected injury has sidelined Aspinall and raised questions about his title defense plans.
- Aspinall was poked in both eyes by Ciryl Gane during their October fight.
- He has been diagnosed with Brown’s syndrome, limiting eye movement.
- Surgery is scheduled to address the ongoing vision issues.
- A rematch between Aspinall and Gane has been confirmed by UFC president Dana White.
The 32-year-old Aspinall, known as the “Atherton assassin,” was immediately rushed to the hospital after the fight, initially unable to see out of his right eye. Over the past two months, he’s consulted multiple doctors and experienced intermittent double vision. Doctors ultimately diagnosed him with Brown’s syndrome, a condition that restricts the upward and inward movement of the eyes.
What are the long-term effects of a double eye poke in MMA? Such injuries can lead to temporary or even permanent vision impairment, requiring extensive medical intervention and potentially impacting an athlete’s career.
Aspinall publicly revealed his need for surgery in a pointed response to Gane’s recent Instagram post regarding his next fight. “No s*** there’s not a date yet,” Aspinall replied. “I’m not medically cleared to fight and about to have surgery thanks to your disgusting fingernails. I’ll be back to smash your face in soon, you cheat.”
UFC president Dana White has already confirmed that a rematch between Aspinall and Gane will take place once Aspinall is fully recovered. Despite his eagerness to defend his title, Aspinall is prioritizing his health and refusing to return to the cage until his vision is completely restored.
During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Aspinall emphasized the importance of caution. “Obviously, I want to get back as soon as possible. That’s the plan. But I’m also aware that with eyes, you gotta be careful,” he said. “They don’t really know when I’m gonna be back at the moment. I’m still not even cleared to train or do anything.”
In a video posted to his own YouTube channel, Aspinall reiterated his commitment to a full recovery. “I’ve got to be 100 per cent right,” he stated. “So whenever the eye’s good to go, that’s when I’ll do it.”
