Tom Aspinall Rejects UFC Exit Reports During Eye Injury Recovery

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has rejected reports that he plans to leave the promotion while he continues recovering from a serious eye injury. BBC Sport reported that the 33-year-old Briton dismissed the claims after they circulated on social media on Wednesday.

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Aspinall said in a post on X that he was not leaving the UFC and had never announced such an intention in an interview. He added that his representatives were speaking with the promotion daily and that the UFC would provide updates. No date for his return has been confirmed.

The champion has not competed since October, when his first title defence against Ciryl Gane ended as a no-contest. Repeated eye pokes left Aspinall unable to continue. He was later diagnosed with a rare eye condition, experienced persistent double vision and underwent surgery, according to the BBC report.

Aspinall said in June that he had returned to full training and was preparing for a rematch with Gane. At that point, he suggested September as a possible window for the fight, but the bout had not been confirmed in the reporting. His latest statement addressed his UFC status without setting a timetable for competition.

Gane has since defeated Alex Pereira to win the interim heavyweight championship at the UFC's White House event in June. The French fighter then called for a unification contest with Aspinall, leaving a second meeting between the two as the apparent route to resolving the division's title picture.

BBC Sport lists Aspinall's professional mixed martial arts record at 15 victories, three defeats and one no-contest. He has fought 10 times in the UFC, recording eight wins, one loss and the no-contest against Gane. His only UFC defeat came against Curtis Blaydes, when Aspinall suffered a serious knee injury. For now, his recovery and the UFC's next announcement remain the confirmed points to watch.