Aspinall still not cleared to fight as eye injury delays UFC heavyweight return

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has no confirmed return date after Eddie Hearn revealed the Englishman has yet to receive medical clearance to compete, with an athletic commission still withholding approval due to the eye injury he suffered against Ciryl Gane last October.

Hearn, speaking at a recent press scrum, was unequivocal that the delay is not a matter of motivation. “The only thing that we have to look at is when Tom Aspinall will be ready to return,” he said. “And that’s not from a mindset perspective; that’s from a commission perspective in terms of his injury. And that shows you what he has been through because if the commission won’t let him fight, you know how serious the injuries were… He’s motivated. I can’t give you an exact date, but what I can tell you is he wants to get back in there as soon as he is physically able to do so.”

Aspinall (15-3) was defending his heavyweight title when the bout with Gane was halted in the opening round and ruled a no-contest after he was unable to continue following a double eye poke. The incident triggered a public dispute between Aspinall and the UFC, with the champion accusing Dana White of downplaying the severity of the damage.

Since then, Aspinall has undergone multiple eye procedures and has stated publicly that his recovery is progressing well. However, Hearn’s comments make clear that the athlete’s own confidence in his condition is not sufficient — the relevant athletic commission must sign off before any fight can be sanctioned.

The situation leaves the UFC heavyweight division in a state of uncertainty. With the title effectively inactive and no opponent or event yet attached to Aspinall’s comeback, the timeline for the division’s next major chapter remains open-ended.