UFC Champ Tom Aspinall Talks Upcoming Eye Surgeries From Injuries in Ciryl Gane Fight

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall revealed that he is undergoing multiple eye surgeries stemming from the injuries sustained in his last fight against Ciryl Gane in October.

"By the time this [statement] goes out, I'll probably have surgery on one eye already," said Aspinall, in a video released on Sunday, per ESPN's Brett Okamoto. "Next surgery is coming mid-January. So, we're working towards getting back. That's the plan."

Aspinall was fighting for the first time in over a year when his title defense against Gane ended in a no-contest in the main event of UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi after he sustained multiple accidental eye pokes. Many criticized the 32-year-old for not continuing to fight, but it's been made clear over the past few weeks that he suffered some serious damage.

Per Okamoto, Aspinall has stated he has dealt with lingering double vision and lack of eye movement since the Oct. 25 fight. He also reportedly said that he believes Gane committed the foul on purpose. While Aspinall didn't provide additional information on the exact nature of his surgeries or a timeframe for return, the UFC is expected to book a rematch between him and Gane when he's cleared to resume training.

Aspinall's bright career has taken a bit of downturn recently. After becoming the interim heavyweight champion in November 2023, he defended his belt in July 2024 before spending over a year on the shelf while waiting for a unification fight against Jon Jones. When Jones suddenly retired and vacated his belt in June, Aspinall was elevated to undisputed champion. His fight against Gane was supposed to be his comeback party, but his eye injuries derailed that.

UFC fans are certainly hoping that Aspinall will be able to recover quickly, as he can be one of the biggest stars in MMA if he manages to return to glory.