UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has provided an update on his eye injury layoff while confirming a new long-term management deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom.
Aspinall was promoted from interim to undisputed heavyweight champion following Jon Jones’ retirement in June 2025, but his first undisputed title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in under five minutes as a no-contest due to an eye poke. He is still recovering from the damage suffered in that bout.
“At the minute, I’ve just had my recent scan,” Aspinall said. “I thought it was going to get cleared actually to spar and fight straight away, but they actually said they’re giving me another couple of months, so I’m just waiting because the cells in your eye take a little bit longer to heal, so as soon as they’re healed, we should be good to go.”
The layoff has been frustrating for the champion. “It’s been a shit time. It’s like you said, if you’re not fighting, you’re not earning. So, like, I’m not sitting here for fun. I’d love to be fighting. I’d love to be on these big cards and these big nights. I didn’t work since I was 10 years old to sit on the sidelines.”
During his recovery, Aspinall signed with Matchroom, despite being aware of Eddie Hearn’s previous feud with UFC president Dana White. “A little bit, but once I figured out the finer details of the relationship that me and Matchroom have, I was obviously happy, I signed a long-term contract,” Aspinall said.
“So I’m happy with it. I’ve got a lot of people like Tony and other people I know personally who worked with Matchroom. No one who I know personally has a bad word to say about them, stuff like that goes a long way with me.”
