UPDATE: UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains sidelined as he awaits medical clearance to return to training after suffering an illegal eye poke from Ciryl Gane during their title fight on October 25, 2025, in Abu Dhabi. In a shocking social media update, Aspinall revealed he may require surgery due to lingering symptoms, including double vision and blurred vision.
Aspinall, now with a record of 15-3, didn’t hold back in his criticism of Gane, labeling him “a big cheater” and asserting that the eye poke was intentional. “The guy was cheating from the first second,” Aspinall stated, emphasizing that Gane consistently had his fingers aimed at Aspinall’s eyes throughout their exchanges.
The bout was ruled a no-contest after Aspinall could not continue following the foul late in the first round. Aspinall reflected on the moment, saying, “When I watch the fight back, that’s when I really got the gist of what’s going on.” His frustration is palpable as he feels that Gane’s actions compromised his health and safety in the ring.
“If it’s an illegal move, why am I going to put my health at risk when I can’t see at all?”
Adding to his disappointment, Aspinall expressed dissatisfaction with UFC CEO Dana White‘s comments post-fight, where White suggested Aspinall “didn’t want to continue in the fight.” Aspinall clarified, “I’m not a f—ing dummy. I’m not going to go out there and fight one of the best strikers in the world when I can’t see with one eye.”
The fallout from the fight has left the heavyweight division in limbo, as the UFC intends to rebook the Aspinall-Gane matchup as soon as possible. However, Aspinall’s recovery timeline remains uncertain. “Right now, we’ve got to focus on the path back to normal and following doctors’ orders,” he said.
The implications of this incident are significant. Aspinall’s career trajectory and the UFC heavyweight division have been stalled since 2025, with previous plans for a lucrative showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic also affected. Jones was expected to face Aspinall later, but instead announced his retirement, further complicating the division’s future.
As the situation develops, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how this unfolds. Aspinall’s determination to get back in the ring is clear, but his health comes first. “If you were sidelined from doing your job for 15 months, how do you think I feel?” he asked, highlighting the emotional toll of the past months.
Stay tuned for updates on Aspinall’s recovery and the potential rebooking of this highly-anticipated fight. The heavyweight division is watching closely as this story continues to unfold.
