It’s been nearly three months since heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall stepped in the octagon against former interim titleholder Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. The title fight headlined the fight card at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and ended abruptly in the first round.
Late in the opening round, Gane poked Aspinall in both eyes rendering him unable to see and unable to continue. The fight was ruled a no contest and Aspinall retained his title, but he was left with impaired vision that required surgery.
Unable to train and facing an uncertain future, the process. has been ‘a nightmare’ for the 32 year-old Brit.
“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,” Aspinall said on Paddy Pimblett‘s YouTube channel.
Related: Tom Aspinall proposes radical plan to deal with fouls in MMA
“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’ just been a slow process,” continued the heavyweight champion. “It’s been a nightmare to be honest.”
In a recent interview, Aspinall explained that he’s still dealing with blurred and double vision. He accused Gane of deliberately eye poking him and labeled the Frenchman a ‘dirty fighter.’ A rematch between the two is expected once Aspinall is fully recovered.
