Overview
- Aspinall revealed on the Great Company with Jamie Laing podcast that he underwent three eye surgeries — one on the left eye and two on the right — after the eye pokes that stopped his UFC 321 title fight.
- The October 2025 no‑contest at UFC 321 left Aspinall temporarily blind in one eye and fearful of permanent vision loss, with the fighter saying one eye was 'completely black' for weeks.
- Aspinall described the procedures as extremely painful and more harrowing than a vasectomy, saying surgeons operated while he was awake and he could see his eye being cut.
- The champion has been cleared to resume training and is awaiting a confirmed comeback date, with a rematch against interim heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane expected later this year.
- The case has renewed attention on eye‑poke enforcement and fighter safety, and it has driven fan backlash against Aspinall while also shaping the UFC’s plans for unifying the heavyweight belt.