Aspinall Describes Watching Surgeons Operate on His Eyes

Tom Aspinall has described what it was like to stay awake while surgeons operated on his eyes. The UFC heavyweight champion said on the Great Company Podcast that he had three surgeries.

Aspinall was crowned heavyweight champion last year, after Jon Jones announced his retirement.

The trouble began in his first title defense, against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025. Aspinall was gouged in the eye and was left with major visual field defects and double vision.

"They're coming at you with a scalpel or knife, and you're literally watching them slice into your eyeball. You're just lying there thinking, 'What is happening?' Honestly, it was horrendous. I never want to go through that again," Aspinall said.

February operation and everyday life

In February 2026 he underwent double eye surgery to repair muscle damage from bilateral traumatic Brown's syndrome. Before the operation he struggled to detect motion, which made normal tasks, including playing with his children, difficult. He also had to use 32 eye drops a day to keep his eyes moist and dealt with recurring black patches in his vision.

The report says his recovery seems complete, since he was spotted training in the gym without protective eyewear. In June, Aspinall said he was back in full training for a rematch with Gane and in negotiations with the UFC about making it happen.

The Gane rematch

Gane has since won the interim heavyweight title by beating Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. After that win the Frenchman teased a title unification bout with Aspinall in Paris in September, and Aspinall agreed. The discussions have been verbal, and nothing has been confirmed officially.

Source: MMA Sucka