Tom Aspinall has described his ongoing eye injury as a “nightmare” as the UFC heavyweight champion continues his recovery from the issue that has sidelined him in recent months.
Aspinall suffered the injury during his bout with Ciryl Gane, which ended in a no contest following eye pokes that left him unable to continue. Speaking in an update, Aspinall explained that the damage has had a significant impact on both his vision and his ability to train normally.
“It’s been a nightmare, to be honest,” Aspinall said, adding that the injury has affected his everyday life and forced him to step back from full training. He confirmed that surgery has been required and that his priority is ensuring the problem is fully resolved before considering a return to competition.
“Been a bit of a long process because with eyes like with other injuries, they just fix them straight away. With eyes, they try and let them, because it’s obviously risky, try to let the heal naturally,” he said.
“We’re getting surgery on this eye (his right eye). It’ll keep me out for a little bit, but I’m not sure how long just yet, though. Got a meeting about it soon. It’s just been a slow process,” he added.
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has since offered his perspective, urging Aspinall to take a cautious approach based on his own career-ending eye issues. Bisping warned that eye surgery carries significant risks and that recovery timelines cannot be forced.
“The one thing you can’t do with an eye is rush back,” Bisping said, explaining that even when surgery appears successful, complications can still arise.
Bisping — who is blind in one eye due to an incident in his fighting career — also highlighted the stakes involved, saying, “You only get one set of eyes,” and recalled the lasting impact of his own experience, adding, “I never saw out of that eye again.” He noted that he underwent multiple procedures during his career and emphasised that long-term health must come before short-term competition.
As Aspinall continues his recovery, Bisping’s comments underline the delicate nature of eye injuries in mixed martial arts, with the heavyweight division expected to remain on hold until the champion receives full medical clearance.
