UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been diagnosed with a rare eye condition, Brown syndrome, following the controversial conclusion to his title defence last October.
The Fight That Ended in Confusion
The British fighter successfully retained his UFC heavyweight title at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, but the main event concluded in an anticlimactic and concerning fashion. During the first round, just four minutes into the bout, Aspinall attempted a kick. His opponent, Cyril Gane, lunged forward with a punch and his fingers inadvertently raked across Aspinall's eyes in an inverted motion.
The action was halted for a mandatory five-minute medical timeout. Footage from the octagon showed Aspinall telling the attending doctor, 'I can't see.' The doctor informed the referee that he had no immediate concern for the fighter's eyeball itself. However, after four of the allotted five minutes, the contest was officially ruled a 'No Contest'.
A Serious Diagnosis Revealed
Following extensive medical tests, Aspinall has now shared his diagnosis on social media. He posted a medical report on Instagram detailing the significant after-effects of the blow, which have included double vision, reduced ocular mobility, impaired visual function, and a substantial loss of visual field.
The medical report stated: 'Depending on the clinical evolution, periocular steroid injections or surgical intervention may be necessary to treat persistent motility disturbance if the symptoms do not resolve.'
In a YouTube update, the champion explained his current situation. 'We have to see how it goes in the next few weeks. Right now I'm not training in the gym,' Aspinall said. 'I'm not doing anything MMA-related at the moment. I'm following doctor's orders.'
Road to Recovery and Hopes for a Rematch
Aspirall has expressed clear frustration about the incident. In a video documenting his hospital trip after the fight, an angry Aspinall is heard saying, 'All that training for that. What the f*** is he doing?' He also claimed Gane had been warned twice for similar actions prior to the incident.
Despite his frustration, the champion is focused on healing and has stated his desire for a rematch with Gane, but only when fully fit. 'I could feel how deep it was in my eye,' Aspinall described, sitting with his eye bandaged. 'It's like the back of my eyeball hurts. It's like someone has touched the back of my eyeball.'
For his part, Cyril Gane has denied any intentional foul. The French fighter referenced his own experience of being poked in the eye during a bout with Derrick Lewis, stating he saw double for much of that fight and would not call Aspinall a liar.
The timeline for Aspinall's return to the octagon now depends entirely on his recovery from this rare ocular condition, with steroid treatment or surgery both potential future steps.
