Tom Aspinall With Promising Update on YouTube

Tom Aspinall (15-3, 1 NC MMA 8-1, 1 NC UFC,) hasn't been in action for a little over six months. In the wake of Jon Jones abruptly retiring from MMA last summer, UFC CEO Dana White named Aspinall, who won the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship in the summer of 2024 in exactly 60 seconds' time versus Curtis Blaydes (19-6, 1 NC MMA, 14-6, 1 NC UFC,) was elevated to permanent champion.

For his first defense as heavyweight champion, Aspinall trekked to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for UFC 321 in late October. No. 1 contender Ciryl Gane (13-2, 1 NC MMA, 10-2, 1 NC UFC) served as his adversary on the final Saturday night of October. 

The fight was scheduled for five rounds at five minutes per round in the UFC 321 main event of the evening. Everything came unglued toward the end of the first round, however.

Devastating Eye Poke Spells End to UFC 321 Main Event, Tom Aspinall on Shelf

With 25 seconds remaining on the first-round clock, Tom Aspinall sustained an eye poke. In accordance with protocol, the champion was afforded a five-minute medical timeout to try and recover. The five minutes elapsed with Aspinall still unable to see after the eye poke. '

Referee Jason Herzog put a stop to the contest, ruling the main event a no-contest. Because Aspinall did not lose the fight, he remains the UFC Heavyweight Champion going into his next fight. Due to his hiatus from competition, the UFC ordered an interim heavyweight championship for June 14 during UFC Freedom 250 on The White House grounds in Washington, DC. 

Gane will return to action against former UFC Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira (13-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in the co-main event of a rare Sunday night event from the No. 1 MMA promotion in the world in about a month.

Tom Aspinall Takes to YouTube to Discuss Recovery and Return

On Sunday, the UFC Heavyweight Champion provided some good news in the form of an update on his YouTube channel. Right at the top of the video, he mentioned that he's taken an important step toward an eventual return to action.

"We are just en route back from the eye hospital, where today, I had a scan," Tom Aspinall began. "Things are progressing (expletive deleted) nicely, which I'm very happy about. They're saying, pretty soon, if things keep moving in the right direction, I will be cleared for contact."

He mentioned that he's returned to the gym recently.

"I am back training," he continued. "No sparring just yet. If things keep going the way they're going, we are back."

Tom Aspinall on Next Opponent in Octagon

As previously mentioned, the UFC Freedom 250 co-main event will feature an interim heavyweight championship fight matching Pereira against Gane in the middle of June. Aspinall mentioned that after June 14, he'll have some clarity on who he fights in his return to the fabled Octagon.

"The other two guys, Alex and Ciryl, have to fight for the interim title," he said. "I'm obviously going to fight the winner. The UFC have told me that I'm fighting the winner."

Aspinall knows that his eyes have to completely heal before any fight is scheduled, however.

"I have to get my health right, which is on the right track," Aspinall continued. "I have to wait for that to be done and we fight the winner, simple as that."

Exact Timetable for Tom Aspinall's Return Still Unknown

Also in the video, Aspinall took time out to answer questions from his YouTube subscribers and fans. One such question entailed what the champion has in mind for the remainder of this calendar year.

"The goal is get fighting again," he replied. "Get healthy, get fighting, and we are on the way to both, so very happy with that."

The champion mentioned that a concrete return date to competition has yet to be set.

"I'm waiting to get clearance, which is going to be coming soon, they've just told me," he said. "Any specific month recover from that. When everybody's ready, we'll do it."