Tom Aspinall has delivered one of the most encouraging updates yet on his recovery, revealing that contact clearance may be imminent following a positive scan at the eye hospital.
Aspinall shared the update on his YouTube channel after returning from a hospital appointment that gave him reason for genuine optimism.
“We are just en route back from the eye hospital, where today I’ve had a scan, and things are progressing f***ing nicely, which I’m very happy about. They’re saying, pretty soon – if things keep moving in the right direction – I will be cleared for contact. I am back in the gym, I am back training, but not sparring just yet. But if things keep going the way they’re going, we are back.”
He also addressed the question that has followed him throughout his recovery regarding when and who he will fight next.
“Everyone keeps asking when I’m going to fight. The obvious answer is the other two guys, Alex and Ciryl, have to fight for the interim title. I’m obviously going to fight the winner. The UFC has told me that I’m fighting the winner. First and foremost, I should get my health right, which is on the right track. I have to wait for that to be done, and we fight the winner. Simple as that. No specific month. I’m waiting to get clearance, which is going to be coming soon, they’ve just told me. And any specific month depends on the UFC. Those two have got to fight each other. Let them do the thing first, recover from that, and then when everybody’s ready, we’ll do it.”
Aspinall has been sidelined since October 2025, when his first heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest following multiple eye pokes. He underwent double eye surgery. His overall record stands at 15-3 with one no-contest, and all 15 of his wins have come by stoppage.