Bisping Sends Aspinall a Message as His Eye Recovery Continues

Tom Aspinall is back in the gym, doing light training, and a fellow Englishman noticed. Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping answered the photos with encouragement.

The comment

Aspinall has been away from social media while he focuses on recovery. Recently he shared a few glimpses of what he has been up to, including pictures of himself training lightly. Bisping wrote under the post:

“Enjoy the down time mate. Quiet before the storm and all that.”

Why Aspinall is sidelined

In September Aspinall vacated his heavyweight title, citing “ongoing complications” with his eyes. The trouble goes back to UFC 321, where Ciryl Gane poked him in both eyes. Aspinall could not continue, and the title fight was ruled a no-contest.

This year he has had multiple eye surgeries and injections in the eyeball. He had hoped to be back before the end of 2026 to defend the belt. Those plans fell apart when he suffered further damage to his right eye in sparring, and he decided to give the title up.

He is 33. Next year he is due to have an eye scan. It should show whether the infection in the eye is under control and whether he can be cleared to fight.

What it means for the division

Gane won the interim belt earlier this year at the White House. After Aspinall vacated, he was elevated to undisputed champion. His first defense is scheduled for UFC 334 against the undefeated Josh Hokit.

The reported plan afterward has two branches. If Aspinall is fit to return next year, he is expected to get a chance to reclaim the title. If he is not cleared, Alexander Volkov is the likely next challenger.

Our View

Bisping's line reads as a hint that a comeback is on his mind, but nothing in the exchange sets a date. The eye scan next year looks like the real checkpoint. Until then, the gym photos are the only sign of progress, and they show light work only. The scan result and the title picture after UFC 334 are the things to follow.

Source: LowKickMMA.com