Tom Aspinall injury puts UFC Heavyweight Division on hold

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall set out to reignite momentum in the division, but instead, the 265-pound weight class has been thrown back into uncertainty following a serious and potentially career-altering injury.

Aspinall suffered significant eye damage during his bout with former interim champion Ciryl Gane, an incident that has since drawn heavy scrutiny. The injury, reportedly caused by a finger poke, has left Aspinall with ongoing vision problems and may even force an early retirement if upcoming surgery fails to repair the damage.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Joe Rogan didn’t hold back in describing the situation.

“The Tom Aspinall–Ciryl Gane thing was a f*cking disaster,” Rogan said. “Tom Aspinall still can’t see. His right eye is still messed up. The reality is, he might not ever fight again. Eyes are so tricky—you just never know.”

Rogan revealed that Aspinall continues to experience severe vision impairment, with possible tendon damage involved. According to him, the uncertainty surrounding eye injuries makes the situation even more alarming.

Rogan also pushed back against critics who have questioned the severity of Aspinall’s condition.

“For anyone saying he’s faking it, that finger went knuckle-deep into his left eye,” Rogan added. “It’s horrible to see. Unless you’re a complete psychopath like Michael Bisping—who fought most of his UFC career blind in one eye—this is not something you mess around with.”

At just 32 years old, Aspinall had already endured a long layoff while waiting for Jon Jones, who ultimately vacated the heavyweight title and retired. Now, with Aspinall’s future uncertain, the UFC faces yet another dilemma in an already stalled division.

Also read: Jon “Bones” Jones Retires: The Curtain Falls on MMA’s Most Puzzling and Dominant Career

With no clear timeline for Aspinall’s return and no official announcement from the promotion, an interim title could be introduced to keep the heavyweight division active.

For now, everything hinges on Aspinall’s recovery—and whether the champion will ever be able to step into the Octagon again.