Career threatening injuries haunt every fighter’s nightmares throughout their professional careers constantly in combat sports. Tom Aspinall knows that fear better than most UFC heavyweights competing today at the highest level. He suffered a devastating knee injury against Curtis Blaydes in 2022 that required year-long recovery and rehabilitation. The injury resulted in his first professional loss and raised serious questions about his future altogether.<\/p>
UFC 321 was supposed to mark his triumphant return after months away from competition against top contender. But Ciryl Gane accidentally poked Aspinall’s eye at 4:35<\/a> of round one, ending everything prematurely. And Aspinall was immediately taken to the hospital for medical evaluation of the eye injury sustained. <\/p> Tom Aspinall shared a video from the hospital shortly after UFC<\/a> 321 concluded in Abu Dhabi. The heavyweight champion looked visibly shaken while discussing what happened during the fight with Gane. <\/p> “It’s a very dangerous sport. [The eye poke] Way scarier than what I did to my knee… It feels like someone touched the back of my eyeball.” <\/em><\/strong><\/p>Tom Aspinall Makes Frightening Hospital Admission<\/h2>