Aspinall diagnosed with rare eye condition

More than a month after picking up the injury while defending his heavyweight title at UFC 321, Tom Aspinall has been diagnosed with a rare condition in both eyes. He is not yet ready to return to action.

When Ciryl Gane attempted a punch late in the first round of their fight in Abu Dhabi on October 25, his French opponent accidentally poked the Briton in the both eyes.

Aspinall, 32, was unable to continue, and despite being turned down for a no-contest, he still had his belt.

Aspinall has been diagnosed with “significant traumatic bilateral Brown’s syndrome” and continues to have “persistent” double vision, according to a medical report released on his Instagram account.

The eye cannot move upwards, especially when looking inward, according to Brown’s syndrome.

Aspinall is still receiving medical clearance for combat action, and special treatment is ongoing.

According to the report, “Depending on clinical progression, targeted periocular]movement] impairment [to address persistent motility] may be required [to treat] steroid injections or surgical intervention to address persistent motility [movement] impairment.

Aspinall thanked followers for their ongoing “love, support, and memes” in a post on Instagram, and promised to update his YouTube channel on Sunday night with more details.

After the Aspinall incident, veteran MMA referee Herb Dean stated earlier in November that authorities will look to more frequently impose point deductions for eye pokes.

Instead of denying Gane, 35, a foul, the referee chose to hold the fight as a no-contest.

He decided the incident was unintentional rather than an accident by labeling the fight a no-contest.

Aspinall would have profited from a disqualification.

In an effort to reduce eye injuries, cuts, and cuts, UFC gloves are fingerless, and the organization introduced redesigned gloves in June 2024.