In a dramatic turn of events, UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is set to undergo surgery for a serious eye injury he sustained during his title fight against Ciryl Gane. This unfortunate incident occurred during the highly anticipated bout at UFC 321, held in Abu Dhabi back in October.
Aspinall, who is just 32 years old, was accidentally poked in both eyes by Gane, a fighter from France, within the first round of their match. Following a considerable delay for medical evaluation, Aspinall found himself unable to continue, leading to the fight being declared a no contest.
In a subsequent medical assessment in November, Aspinall was diagnosed with "significant traumatic bilateral Brown's syndrome," a condition that has resulted in ongoing double vision. As a result, he has announced that he will be undergoing surgery on his right eye to address this issue.
In a candid video shared on the YouTube channel of fellow British fighter Paddy Pimblett, Aspinall reflected on the lengthy recovery process, noting how different it has been compared to other injuries he has faced in the past. He explained, "It's been a bit of a long process because with other injuries they fix them straight away. But with eyes, because it's obviously risky, they try and let them heal naturally. So we're getting surgery. It will keep me out for a little bit. I'm not sure how long. We've got a meeting about it soon. It's been a slow process - a nightmare, to be honest."
Controversy arose during the fight as referee Jason Herzog deemed Gane's eye poke accidental. However, Aspinall strongly believes he was struck in the eye three separate times in a fight that lasted less than five minutes. He expressed frustration over the referee's decision, stating, "Three times he did it in one round. The points deduction should be sacked off. First one is an accident; second one is on purpose."
Since claiming victory against Sergei Pavlovich to secure the interim title in November 2023, Aspinall has only stepped into the octagon on two occasions, leaving fans eager to see how this surgery and recovery will impact his career moving forward.
This situation raises important questions about fighter safety and the impact of refereeing decisions on the outcomes of matches. What are your thoughts on the handling of eye injuries in combat sports? Do you believe stricter measures should be implemented to protect fighters? Share your views in the comments!
