Tom Aspinall relinquishes UFC Heavyweight Title after suffering 'further damage' to his right eye in sparring
(Courtesy : UFC)
Tom Aspinall explains decision to vacate UFC heavyweight championship.
Tom Aspinall has vacated the UFC Heavyweight championship after suffering another setback with his eyes, bringing an end to his reign while he continues to deal with ongoing medical complications.
It has been 323 days since Aspinall was poked in both eyes during his no-contest against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, the Englishman’s return date remained unclear following another setback in training.
The development came shortly after Dana White admitted during the Garcia vs Benn post-fight press conference that the UFC was considering stripping Aspinall of the championship. The now-former champion made the decision himself Monday, taking the matter out of the UFC CEO’s hands.
Tom Aspinall reveals further damage to his right eye
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Aspinall explained his decision in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram, insisting that the information surrounding his situation had been distorted.
“Anything you read in the media is simply noise. People are creating their own narratives. This is the truth,
Ongoing complications with my eyes mean I cannot get medically cleared to fight right now. I’ve had multiple surgeries, accidents and infections, and done everything possible to get back to competing.” Aspinall wrote.
The now-former heavyweight champion revealed that he had previously agreed to a fight date and had returned to sparring before an accident caused additional damage to his right eye.
“I had previously agreed to a fight date and was back sparring, feeling great and ready to compete when an accident caused further damage to my right eye. This means more time away from the sport, and right now, the timing of my return is unclear.”
The heavyweight star also addressed why he had remained relatively quiet throughout his recovery, saying he had followed the UFC’s advice while working toward a comeback.
The now-former heavyweight champion vows to return
Tom Aspinall said he decided to vacate the title because he did not want to hold up the heavyweight division and wanted other fighters to have the opportunity to compete for the championship.
“I’ve now made the decision to vacate the heavyweight title. I’ve asked the UFC to allow me to make this statement because I don’t want to hold the heavyweight division up. I know what it’s like to have your career put on hold and I want the other fighters to have the opportunity to compete for the title.”
He added that the UFC and Hunter had been informed throughout his recovery and had access to his tests, procedures and medical information. Despite working with different doctors and specialists, Aspinall said returning to competition is currently not possible.
The former champion admitted he was “absolutely gutted” after chasing the dream since he was 10 years old. However, he stressed that vacating the title does not mean he is walking away from MMA.
“I’m not done. Stepping away from the title is not stepping away from the sport or the dream. I’ll continue doing everything I can to get healthy, get cleared and get back to competing as soon as possible.”
Aspinall also pointed to fouls as a major reason for his ongoing complications, saying they had changed the course of his career and that fighters rely on officials to enforce the rules and protect them.
He concluded with a message to his supporters: “Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this absolute nightmare. I’ll be back as soon as I’m medically able to be.”
Why did Tom Aspinall vacate the UFC heavyweight title?
Aspinall said ongoing complications with his eyes have prevented him from receiving medical clearance to compete.
What happened to Tom Aspinall’s eye?
Aspinall suffered eye injuries during his fight with Ciryl Gane and later sustained further damage to his right eye during training.
Is Tom Aspinall retiring from MMA?
No. Aspinall made it clear that vacating the title does not mean he is stepping away from the sport and said he intends to return once medically cleared.
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