UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is facing a serious health scare following a devastating eye poke during his title fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 on October 14, 2023. Aspinall (15-3) was hospitalized after an accidental poke left him with significant vision impairment, leading to the bout being ruled the first no-contest in UFC title fight history.
In a concerning update shared by his father and head coach, Andy Aspinall, on Tuesday, it was revealed that the 32-year-old fighter “can’t see anything” out of his right eye, describing it as “just gray.” According to Andy, initial tests indicated that Aspinall’s left eye is only functioning at 50 percent capacity. “He just couldn’t see letters,” he stated, adding that the situation is “not good.”
Aspinall suffered the injury during the first round of the fight against Gane (13-2), forcing him to withdraw from the match. Fortunately, doctors confirmed that there was no bone damage, but the team is undergoing further tests to determine the full extent of his injuries. “Hopefully it will be alright,” Andy remarked, though he cautioned, “But it might not be.”
The UFC is actively working to rebook the match between Aspinall and Gane, as confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White. However, the timeline for this rematch remains uncertain as Aspinall and his team await more information regarding his long-term vision recovery.
Aspinall has not yet released an official statement since the fight, but he was visibly distraught in the Octagon following the incident. Fans and fellow fighters alike are rallying around him, hoping for a swift and full recovery.
This alarming news serves as a stark reminder of the risks fighters face in the octagon. As the world watches closely, updates on Aspinall’s condition are eagerly anticipated. Stay tuned for further developments on this evolving story.