Tom Aspinall, UFC’s heavyweight champion, has recently opened up about contemplating retirement after a traumatic eye poke incident cut short his highly anticipated title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. The main event ended abruptly in the first round when Aspinall suffered a double eye poke, making him unable to continue and resulting in a no contest decision.
During a heated exchange late in the first round, Gane’s outstretched glove caught Aspinall in both eyes, leaving him unable to see. Despite being given the standard five-minute recovery period, Aspinall told the referee that his vision was compromised and showed visible distress, prompting the official to stop the match. The event was met with boos from the audience, but Aspinall defended his decision, stating, “I just got poked knuckle deep in the eyeball. Why are you booing? I can’t see. The fight was just getting going. I can hardly open my eye. Look! It was a double eye poke.”
Tom Aspinall is Contemplating Retirement?
The harrowing nature of the injury and the prospect of losing vision—prompted Aspinall to publicly contemplate his future in the sport. The champion acknowledged that the uncertainty surrounding eye health feels “far more frightening” and “way scarier” than any knee injury he has previously endured, including the severe leg injury that sidelined him for a year prior to his title reign. He told his followers and the MMA community, “With your eye, the outcome is uncertain,” openly admitting the fear that the incident instilled in him.
Tom Aspinall’s openness about nearly retiring after this traumatic experience has resonated across the MMA world, elevating concerns about fighter safety and the potential long-term consequences of eye injuries in the sport.
Looking Ahead
Despite this setback, Aspinall remains the UFC heavyweight champion due to the no contest ruling. He has returned to England for further medical tests to assess the full extent of the eye damage before making decisions about his future. UFC officials and fans now await updates, both on his health and on the possibility of a rematch with Ciryl Gane, which UFC president Dana White has hinted could happen once Aspinall is cleared.
Aspinall’s ordeal underscores the ever-present risks in mixed martial arts, reminding both athletes and fans of the thin line between competitive glory and the realities of combat sports injuries.
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