TLDR
- Tom Aspinall criticized Dana White for giving health updates without speaking to him after his eye injury at UFC 321
- White claims UFC staff are checking on Aspinall regularly and denies making negative comments about the fighter
- Aspinall still has persistent double vision and hasn’t returned to training since the October eye poke incident
- The heavyweight title rematch with Ciryl Gane is on hold until Aspinall receives medical clearance
- MMA referee Herb Dean said officials will enforce point deductions for eye pokes more regularly after this incident
UFC president Dana White has addressed criticism from heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall regarding communication following his eye injury at UFC 321 in October. Aspinall’s title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no contest after an eye poke left the British fighter unable to continue.
Aspinall publicly expressed disappointment that White discussed his health status without contacting him directly. The champion told Ariel Helwani that White was giving updates on his condition despite having no knowledge of what actually happened. Aspinall said the situation was disappointing.
White responded to these claims at the UFC 323 post-fight press conference on Saturday. The UFC president stated that staff members are regularly checking on Aspinall to ensure he receives proper care. White said the organization has people monitoring the champion’s condition and offering access to specialists if needed.
The UFC boss clarified he never intended to criticize Aspinall’s decision to stop fighting. White explained he was simply relaying information he had heard from others. He is not a doctor and was only sharing what medical staff told him about the fighter’s condition.
White emphasized that his comments were taken out of context. He said he never made negative or derogatory statements about Aspinall. The UFC president expressed understanding that the champion is likely upset and eager to return.
Medical Status and Recovery Timeline
Aspinall revealed in a YouTube video that he still experiences persistent double vision. The heavyweight champion has not returned to training since the October incident. Doctors have not provided a specific timeline for when he will be cleared to compete again.
The British fighter may require surgery to fix his eye problems. He explained he chose not to continue the fight because competing against an elite striker without full vision would be dangerous. Aspinall stated he won’t risk his health due to a foul.
White confirmed the UFC wants to schedule a rematch between Aspinall and Gane. However, the bout cannot happen until Aspinall receives full medical clearance. The heavyweight division remains on hold while the champion recovers.
Changes to Eye Poke Enforcement
Veteran MMA referee Herb Dean announced officials will enforce point deductions for eye pokes more regularly. This policy change comes directly in response to the Aspinall incident. Dean made these comments earlier in November.
White said he believes Aspinall’s eyes are recovering well based on information he received. The UFC president expects the champion to heal and return to action when ready. White added he looks forward to getting Aspinall back in the octagon.
Aspinall became undisputed heavyweight champion over the summer after Jon Jones retired. The no contest with Gane was supposed to be his first title defense in the new role. The rematch date remains undetermined pending medical clearance.
