Tom Aspinall Back In The Gym

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Mar 21, 2026 7:26 AM ET

The UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall shared a high-intensity training clip on Instagram, signaling a step closer to a return.

The footage marks Aspinall’s first full-contact session since undergoing surgery to repair damage sustained in his last title defense. Aspinall’s return is a major milestone following the severe injury he suffered at UFC 321 in October 2025. During his title defense against Ciryl Gane, Aspinall was struck by a double eye poke that left him with “significant traumatic bilateral Brown’s syndrome”—a condition that restricted his eye movement.

Aspinall’s Return

After months of specialist consultations, Aspinall underwent surgery on both eyes in February 2026 at the Optegra Eye Hospital in Manchester. The recent footage shows Aspinall back to work on his striking and movement. Prior to surgery, Aspinall described feeling “sea-sick” during footwork drills; his return to the gym suggests those visual issues have finally been resolved.

Aspinall’s return to training coincides with a massive shift in the division. Because of Aspinall’s extended recovery, the UFC booked Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane for an interim title at the UFC Freedom 250 White House event. Aspinall has been vocal about his desire to settle the score with Gane, whom he has labeled a “cheater.” Sources close to the champion suggest his team is eyeing a massive homecoming bout in Manchester or London for September 2026, likely against the winner of the Pereira-Gane clash.

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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