Tom Aspinall, the current UFC heavyweight champion, has recently updated his followers about his medical condition. This announcement comes over a month after his fight against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, which ended in a no contest. The bout took place on October 25 in Abu Dhabi.
Medical Diagnosis of Tom Aspinall
Aspinall shared that he has been diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome. This rare condition affects both eyes, limiting upward movement when the eyes are turned inward. He posted medical documents outlining the nature of his injury, which occurred due to an eye poke during the fight.
Symptoms and Findings
The medical report noted several symptoms, including:
- Persistent diplopia in multiple gaze positions.
- Blurred vision and sensitivity to light after the trauma.
- Marked restriction of eye elevation.
- Reduction in visual acuity in both eyes.
- Severe bilateral visual field depression.
Imaging tests, including CT and MRI scans, indicated no acute structural abnormality to explain his symptoms. However, his doctors noted significant disruption to the superior oblique tendontrochlear complex and will continue to monitor his condition.
Future Plans
Aspinall is currently not medically cleared to fight. However, he plans to discuss his situation further in a video on his YouTube channel. His MMA record stands at 15 wins and 3 losses (81 in the UFC).
Implications for UFC
The heavyweight division could see an immediate rematch between Aspinall and Gane, as stated by UFC CEO Dana White. This will depend on Aspinall’s health progress. Since Jon Jones retired earlier in the year, Aspinall’s title defense was highly anticipated.
Despite the circumstances, Aspinall faced criticism from some fans who accused him of exaggerating the impact of the eye poke to avoid continuing the fight. As the situation develops, more updates are expected from Aspinall regarding both his health and future fighting prospects.