Tom Aspinall disappointed in Dana White as potential eye surgeries loom despite his contributions to the UFC

Tom Aspinall faces an uncertain future after a setback in his UFC career. Following a year lost to circumstances outside the octagon, the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion endured a tough return against Ciryl Gane. Their UFC 321 main event in October ended abruptly in the first round when an accidental double eye-poke forced Aspinall to stop fighting. The bout was ruled a no-contest, and the champion was immediately taken to a hospital in Abu Dhabi.

Afterward, UFC President Dana White confirmed Aspinalls hospitalization and hinted at a rematch. What troubled Aspinall, however, was White's statement that the fighter chose not to continue and that the two had discussed it. "It was disappointing because he hadnt spoken to me," Aspinall said on Uncrowneds "The Ariel Helwani Show" during his first interview since UFC 321. "He was giving updates on my health without knowing the facts. Thats frustrating."

Over a month later, Aspinall says he still hasnt heard from White directly and doesnt expect to. He added that he generally feels unsupported by the UFC. "Ive spoken to the UFC since then, but not Dana. We dont really have a relationship. My main contact is [UFC CBO] Hunter [Campbell]. White was giving updates that my eye was fine, which it wasnt. Ive done a lot for the UFC. Its disappointing."

Eye injuries like this often involve corneal abrasions, a problem former champion Belal Muhammad experienced. Aspinall hasnt confirmed his diagnosis yet, but he said the damage is severe enough that surgery on both eyes remains a possibility. Currently, he is restricted to light weightlifting and cardio, dealing with double vision and dizziness from quick movements. His return to competition remains uncertain, with only one fight since July 2024 marked with an asterisk.

"I want to return as soon as possible," Aspinall said. "But with eye injuries, you need to be careful. They havent cleared me to train yet. Surgery on both eyes is a possibility, and Ill need an injection soon. Im not looking forward to it."

Aspinalls path to the top has been dramatic. After winning interim gold against Sergei Pavlovich in November 2023, he defended it against Curtis Blaydes while the MMA world anticipated a unification bout with Jon Jones. That fight never happened. Instead, Jones retired, leaving Aspinall as the undisputed champion. Despite becoming a fan favorite, the fallout from the Gane fight has altered public perception.

"We released the doctors reports recently, which was intense," Aspinall explained. "There are always critics, but after the eye-poke, everything escalated. I went to the hospital, came home, and people assumed I was faking it. Ive undergone extensive tests and produced medical reports. Yet some still claim Im milking it. Watch the replay, check the reportsI didnt make this up."

The criticism extends beyond fans. Jon Jones recently suggested Aspinall has a tendency to quit under adversity, referencing previous injuries, including a 15-second ACL tear against Blaydes. Aspinall dismissed the comments as trolling. "Good for him. I thought he was the GOAT, but focus on yourself. Hes retired. Let him do his thing," Aspinall said.

Jones had initially agreed to a $30 million fight with Aspinall before pulling out. The champion has no hard feelings but remains realistic. "Talking about Jon Jones is wasted energy. $30 million? I wouldnt see that. Id take it, but I wasnt getting close to it," he said.

Author: Sophia Brooks