UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has provided a positive update on his much-anticipated return to the octagon as he continues to recover from double eye surgery.
The 33-year-old, who last fought in October 2025, was diagnosed with significant traumatic bilateral Brown's syndrome, just weeks after being accidentally poked in both eyes by Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.
After seeing eye specialists, it was confirmed that Aspinall had sustained a bilateral ocular trauma, with orthopaedic evaluations highlighting "impaired binocular coordination and restricted ocular mobility".
The NHS describes Brown's Syndrome as an eye movement abnormality that can make looking upwards and inwards difficult and can give the appearance of a squint when looking in certain directions.
Advert
In a medical letter that outlined his diagnosis, Aspinall was told to avoid sparring, fighting or participating in any combat-related activity until full resolution of eye movement impairment and diplopia.
After undergoing surgery on both eyes in February, Aspinall confirmed on Sunday that he is back training.
Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, he said: “I’m just en route back from the eye hospital where today I’ve just had a scan, and things are progressing (expletive) nicely, which I’m very happy about.
"They’re saying pretty soon, if things keep moving in the right direction, I will be cleared for contact. I am back in the gym, I am back training. No sparring just yet. But if things keep on going the way they’re going, we are back.
“Everyone keeps asking when I’m going to fight. The obvious answer is that the other two guys, Alex and Ciryl, have to fight for the interim title. I’m obviously going to fight the winner. The UFC have told me that I’m going to fight the winner. First and foremost, I have to get my health right, which is on the right track,” continued the champ.
“No specific month (for returning). I’m waiting to get clearance, which is going to be coming soon, they just told me. Any specific month depends on the UFC. Those other two are going to fight each other."
"Let them do their thing first, recover from that, and then when everybody’s ready, we’re going to do it," added Aspinall.
Tom Aspinall says he is preparing to fight winner of UFC White House interim title fight
In the above video, Aspinall confirmed the UFC's plan for his comeback fight.
“Everyone keeps asking when I’m going to fight,” he said. “The obvious answer is that the other two guys, Alex and Ciryl, have to fight for the interim title. I’m obviously going to fight the winner. The UFC have told me that I’m going to fight the winner.
“First and foremost, I have to get my health right, which is on the right track,” he added. “[There is] no specific month. I’m waiting to get clearance, which is going to be coming soon, they just told me."
Topics: UFC, Tom Aspinall, MMA
Jack Kenmare