UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall Suffers Serious Eye Injury

British UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is still unable to see out of his right eye three days after suffering a brutal eye poke during his title defence at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi.

The 32-year-old champion was accidentally poked in both eyes by Cyril Gane late in the first round of Saturday’s main event. The fight was immediately stopped and declared a no contest, allowing Aspinall to retain his undisputed heavyweight title.

---

“He Still Can’t See Anything” — Aspinall’s Father Gives Concerning Update

Aspinall’s father and coach, Andy Aspinall, shared a worrying update in a video posted on the fighter’s official YouTube channel on Monday.

“His right eye — he still can’t see anything. He said it’s just grey,” Andy revealed.

“His left eye’s about 50%, so one’s really blurry and one’s still not working.”

Following his brief hospital visit in Abu Dhabi, the champion returned home to England, where he underwent further examinations with an eye specialist in Manchester.

Doctors have scheduled additional tests and a CT scan to rule out orbital fractures, though early signs suggest “the bones are all right.”

---

“Something Needs to Be Done” — Calls for Change in MMA

The incident has reignited debate about fighter safety and UFC glove design, particularly given how often eye pokes occur in mixed martial arts.

“It happens a lot in MMA,” Andy Aspinall said. “Something needs to be done to stop that happening.

It’s bad — he could have lost his sight. He’s still not got his sight in one eye, so we don’t know. Time is a healer, hopefully.”

The injury marks a devastating moment in Aspinall’s career, coming in his first title defence since becoming UFC’s undisputed heavyweight champion earlier in 2025.

---

The UFC Glove Controversy

Eye pokes have long plagued MMA due to the design of the sport’s fingerless gloves.

In June 2024, the UFC introduced a redesigned glove model aimed at reducing eye pokes, cuts, and hand injuries. However, after mixed feedback from fighters, the promotion reverted to its original glove design in November 2024 — the same design used since 1997.

At the UFC 321 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White addressed the growing controversy:

“No matter what you do with the glove, they’re going to happen,” White said, acknowledging that while safety improvements have been tried, the risk remains inherent to the sport.

---

The Fight and Its Fallout

Saturday’s UFC 321 main event was expected to be a high-level showdown between two elite heavyweights — Aspinall, the explosive British champion, and Cyril Gane, the French striker and former interim titleholder.

The bout began competitively until the accidental poke left Aspinall visibly disoriented. After medical evaluation inside the Octagon, officials ruled him unable to continue, and the match ended before the close of Round 1.

Fans and fighters alike expressed frustration online, calling for rule changes, stricter penalties, and a permanent glove redesign to prevent similar injuries.

---

What Happens Next for Tom Aspinall?

As of Tuesday, Aspinall remains under medical supervision and is expected to undergo several days of rest before undergoing further scans. Doctors have yet to confirm whether his vision loss is temporary or long-term.

If cleared to return, a rescheduled fight with Gane could take place in early 2026 — but only after his full recovery.

Until then, Aspinall’s camp is focused on his health and eyesight.

“He’s a warrior,” said his father. “But right now, fighting doesn’t matter — it’s about getting his sight back.”