After over a month of silence, Tom Aspinall has finally addressed the injury that saw his first UFC heavyweight title defense end in a no contest.
Aspinall provided a medical update on the eye injury he sustained after getting eye poked by Ciryl Gane in the first round of their heavyweight championship fight main event of UFC 321 on Oct. 25 in Abu Dhabi. Aspinall posted on Sunday medical documents, along with some memes, claiming he’s suffering from bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome – a rare eye condition affecting both eyes, causing a restriction in upward eye movement when the eye is turned inward.
“Following a bilateral eye-poke injury sustained during a UFC fight in October 2025, the patient has been diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome, indicating significant disruption to the superior oblique tendon-trochlear complex. Clinically, he presents with:
- Persistent diplopia in multiple gaze positions, including lateral gaze and upgaze.
- Blurred vision and photophobia following the trauma.
- Marked restriction of elevation in adduction in both eyes, confirmed on orthoptic assessment.
- Reduction in visual acuity bilaterally.
Severe bilateral visual field depression on Humphrey visual field testing.Imaging and investigations demonstrated:
- Findings requiring continued monitoring, with no definitive structural explanation identified for the degree of functional deficit.
- CT imaging initially raised concern for a medial orbital wall abnormality.
- MRI demonstrated no acute structural abnormality to account for motility impairment or visual symptoms.
- Intraocular pressures and anterior segment findings did not identify the source of functional limitation.”
As of now, Aspinall is not medically cleared, and will continue to be monitored by specialists. Apart from providing a medical diagnosis, Aspinall said he’ll also comment on the matter on a video expected to post on his YouTube channel Sunday night.
Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has been the subject of heavy criticism from some of the MMA fan base, accusing him of exaggerating the eye poke in intention to not continue fighting against Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC). The fight was his first as undisputed champion after Jon Jones retired and relinquished the title earlier this year. Aspinall had not competed since July 2024. UFC CEO Dana White said that an immediate rematch between Aspinall and Gane will be next, should Aspinall’s health permit.
