The UFC heavyweight division has been waiting on its champion, and Tom Aspinall has finally given fans an update on his recovery, one that, while cautious, is positive.
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Speaking on his YouTube channel, the heavyweight champion said that he has begun light training, though he’s still not fully cleared for contact just yet.
“I know we’ve not done one of these for quite some time,” he said. “Just been back in the gym doing a little bit of light training, still waiting to get fully cleared for contact on my eye. But we’re back in the gym doing a little bit. I will show you a bit of that later in the week.”
The 32-year-old has been out since October 2025, when a fight with Ciryl Gane ended in disaster due to repeated eye pokes. The damage was significant, and the heavyweight champion was later diagnosed with traumatic bilateral Brown’s syndrome, which affects eye movement and vision.
That led to double eye surgery, throwing his entire career timeline into uncertainty. Now, six months later, progress is clear. Along with his return to light gym work, Tom Aspinall has re-entered the UFC’s mandatory drug testing pool, which is a necessary step before any comeback.
The testing, which followed Combat Sports Anti-Doping regulations, suggests that the promotion is preparing for his eventual return, even if medical clearance hasn’t fully caught up yet. Still, there are clear limitations.
The Briton revealed last month that he won’t be able to take any shots for a while, with doctors recommending months without contact.
“I just can’t get punched for a while,” Tom Aspinall said. “Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing… about four months without getting punched, which is quite a long time for me. It’s the longest I’ve not been punched for.”
For now, though, the focus is simple: recovery. The improvements in his vision and ability to return to the gym are promising for sure, but the final step, that is, being approved for full contact, will ultimately decide when the heavyweight king steps back into the Octagon. But whenever he does, he is willing to face the winner of the interim heavyweight title co-main event.
Tom Aspinall says he will fight the winner of Ciryl Gane vs. Alex Pereira
That waiting game hasn’t stopped Tom Aspinall from already mapping out what comes next. While his return is dependent on medical clearance, his attention is squarely focused on the heavyweight division—specifically, the interim title fight that will determine his next opponent.
For the Briton, there’s no ambiguity about the path forward.
“Just took in the information. Ciryl Gane, Alex Pereira. Obviously, I’m gonna fight the winner of that,” he said on his YouTube channel. “So, just waiting now to be given the green light, the all clear from the doctors to start training again. As soon as we can start training properly again, full-contact in the gym, we will be getting a fight date booked to fight the winner.”
Tom Aspinall framed it as the natural next step rather than a callout. With the division moving forward in his absence, he understands the need for activity—but also sees himself as the final checkpoint.
