Tom Aspinall underwent double eye surgery last week after suffering vision problems since his UFC heavyweight title fight with Ciryl Gane last October. The surgery followed repeated eye pokes that caused double vision, black spots, and vertigo, forcing the fight's stoppage. UFC interim champion Aspinall now faces an uncertain return, with no timeline provided for recovery. Michael Bisping, a former UFC champion who lost vision in one eye, advised Aspinall to ignore rumors and focus on fighting: 'Just ignore all of that.

Just come back and win your next fight, dominate the next few, make tons of money and retire.' Aspinall, who spent 19 months as interim champion before Jon Jones' retirement, has expressed frustration with the 'business' side of MMA, telling Yahoo he 'hates the business' and feels 'fighters are just completely replaceable.' As Aspinall recovers, the UFC may look to move forward without him, with Alex Pereira seen as the most logical replacement if Jones remains retired due to arthritis. Bisping noted the sport's relentless pace: 'The show must go on.' Aspinall's first defence as full champion ended in a no-contest against Gane, highlighting the division's instability during his absence.