Tom Aspinall recently had surgery on both eyes following an injury sustained during his heavyweight championship fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 last October. The surgery aims to restore his vision after multiple eye pokes left him unable to continue the bout.
During the first round of their much-anticipated matchup, Gane accidentally poked Aspinall’s eyes several times, causing significant damage. The referee stopped the fight and declared it a no-contest due to Aspinall’s inability to keep fighting. Post-fight, Aspinall reported experiencing vision loss and restricted eye movement as a result of the injuries.
Details on Tom Aspinall’s Recovery and Surgery
Aspinall’s medical team at Optegra confirmed he underwent operations on both eyes and is now progressing through recovery. The specialists expressed their commitment to helping the UFC heavyweight contender regain his full vision and return to competition. Optegra stated:
“After his highly publicised eye poke injury, Optegra’s expert team is proud to have supported MMA fighter and UFC Heavyweight Champion. Over recent months, we’ve been working closely with him on his recovery. Following his operation on both eyes, we continue the journey to get Tom’s vision back to fighting fitness.”
The news drew considerable attention from fans and the MMA community on social media. One supporter commented:
“People will still say he’s faking it.”
Meanwhile, another fan joked optimistically about Aspinall’s resilience:
“Gane isn’t ready for ‘Bionic Eye’ Aspinall.”
Concerns Raised by Joe Rogan Regarding Aspinall’s Eye Injury
Last month, UFC commentator Joe Rogan shared his unease about Aspinall’s future in the sport during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast featuring Gable Steveson. Rogan highlighted the severity of the eye damage and the uncertainty surrounding Aspinall’s ability to fight again. He explained:
“I mean, Tom Aspinall still can’t see. He’s got a messed-up right eyeball still. It’s really bad. The reality is, he might not ever fight again. Who knows. If he has surgery on his eye and it doesn’t go well, and he can’t see out of the eye. Apparently, he’s still messed up in his right eye. There’s some tendon damage or something. Eyes are so tricky. You never know… Unless you’re a complete psychopath like Michael Bisping, who fought 11 fights in the UFC blind in one eye.”
Rogan’s remarks underscore the fragility of Aspinall’s condition and the challenges ahead in his recovery process. Despite the risks, Aspinall’s team continues to work diligently toward getting him back to full fighting capability.
This injury and the resulting surgery have significant implications for Aspinall’s career and the heavyweight division, as fans and analysts wait anxiously to see if he can make a successful return to the Octagon. The surgery is a critical step in his rehabilitation, with hopes that it will restore his vision and allow him to continue competing at the highest level.
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