Tom Aspinall Struggles with Vision After UFC 321 Eye Poke Incident
Tom Aspinall, the heavyweight champion, is experiencing significant vision issues following an unfortunate incident during UFC 321. The fight took place in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, where Aspinall defended his title against Cyril Gane.
Incident Overview
During the main event, Aspinall suffered eye pokes from Gane while attempting to evade a punch late in the first round. This resulted in the fight being officially ruled a no contest, allowing Aspinall to retain his title despite being unable to continue.
Three days post-fight, Aspinall’s father, Andy, revealed during a YouTube video that his son still cannot see out of his right eye. “His right eye – he still can’t see anything. He said it’s just grey,” Andy stated. In contrast, Aspinall’s left eye is at about 50% capacity, leaving him with blurred vision.
Health Assessments and Future Steps
After the injury, Aspinall was taken to the hospital and later returned to England. He consulted with an eye specialist in Manchester on Monday. Additional tests, including a CT scan, are scheduled for this week to assess any potential damage to the eye socket bones.
Concerns Over Eye Pokes in MMA
- Andy Aspinall has voiced serious concerns regarding eye pokes in mixed martial arts.
- He emphasized the potential for severe injury, including the possibility of losing sight.
- He called for necessary changes within the sport to mitigate the frequency of such incidents.
The incident has reignited debates about MMA safety regulations. UFC gloves, known for being fingerless, were modified in June 2024 to reduce eye pokes and injuries but reverted to a prior design in November. The original glove model had not been significantly updated since 1997.
UFC’s Stance on Eye Pokes
UFC president Dana White addressed the ongoing issue during a post-fight news conference. He acknowledged that despite attempts to improve glove design, eye pokes are likely to persist in the sport. “No matter what you do with the glove, they’re going to happen,” he stated.
As Tom Aspinall navigates this challenging situation, fans and professionals alike await further updates on his recovery and vision restoration.
