Tom Aspinall’s Vision Problems Persist – ‘I Get Really Dizzy’

UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall has provided a bleak look at his recovery process, admitting that his future remains in a state of “uncertainty” after undergoing surgery on both eyes this week.

The 32-year-old is currently battling bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome—a direct result of the accidental double eye-poke he sustained from Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 last October. The condition has resulted in vision problems. 

Aspinall described a “black spot” in his vision that never fades and revealed that he suffers from persistent double vision. When attempting to return to light drills, Aspinall admitted he feels like he is “standing on a boat,” experiencing severe vertigo and an inability to track moving targets.

“Every time I try to change direction, it’s very disorientating. The best way I can describe it is that it feels like I’m standing on a boat. I get really dizzy and it’s very difficult to focus on the area I’m attacking. It’s like I don’t know where I’m going. Right now, I’ve got a black spot in my eye and it’s there constantly,” Aspinall said

Aspinall’s Future

That has naturally raised question marks over his future. Aspinall may face calls for him to be stripped if he continues to remain sidelined, while his camp have also expressed their desire to crossover into boxing. Tom has also previously expressed his frustration with MMA, particularly the lack of redress to combat situations where a fighter suffers a serious injury. While Aspinall may have the luxury of having enough to keep himself sustained outside the UFC, the same cannot be said for other fighters.

“I love martial arts. I absolutely love it. I’ll never stop loving it, but I just hate the business. I think that fighters are just completely replaceable and the business will make you feel like that any chance it gets. Even if you get hit with an illegal move, which could affect the rest of your life, they don’t really give a s—. And no one else does either,” Aspinall stated