UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has revealed the shocking extent of the eye injury he sustained during his victory over Ciryl Gane, detailing a gruesome treatment process that would make most fighters wince.
The British MMA star, who captured the interim title with a stunning first-round knockout in Paris, suffered a nasty eye poke during the brief encounter that required immediate medical attention and an unconventional recovery approach.
The Unseen Battle: Aspinall's Post-Fight Ordeal
While fans celebrated Aspinall's lightning-fast victory at UFC 295, few realised the damage inflicted in the opening exchanges. "The eye is not good," Aspinall confessed, describing how Gane's finger made direct contact during their initial engagement.
"He poked me right in the eye, and it was pretty bad. I've had it before, but this was something else entirely," the Manchester fighter revealed, highlighting the severity of an injury that often goes unnoticed by television audiences.
Medieval Treatment for Modern Warrior
What followed sounds more like medieval torture than modern sports medicine. Aspinall detailed the alarming procedure: "They had to cut my eye open to release the pressure. They literally sliced my eyeball with a blade."
The treatment, while unsettling, proved necessary to prevent long-term damage. "They put a needle in my eye as well to drain the fluid," Aspinall added, painting a vivid picture of the sacrifices fighters make behind the scenes.
Road to Recovery and Manchester Homecoming
Despite the graphic nature of his injury, Aspinall's recovery has been remarkably swift. The 30-year-old is already back in training and eyeing a homecoming fight in Manchester this summer.
"I'm healing well now," he confirmed, demonstrating the resilience that has become his trademark. His focus now shifts to defending his interim title on home soil, with UFC Manchester scheduled for July at the Co-op Live arena.
The injury revelation adds another layer to Aspinall's remarkable comeback story, having previously overcome a catastrophic knee injury that threatened his career. His ability to power through physical adversity continues to define his journey toward UFC greatness.
