Tom Aspinall Diagnosed with Brown's Syndrome After Eye Poke

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall revealed on Sunday that he has been diagnosed with Brown's syndrome in both eyes following an accidental eye poke that ended his title defense against Ciryl Gane in a no-contest at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi last October. The 32-year-old British fighter, who retained his belt, shared a medical report on Instagram detailing persistent double vision, reduced eye motility and visual function, and a minimally displaced fracture in his right medial orbital wall.

The bout, Aspinall's first as undisputed champion, lasted less than two minutes into the opening round. Gane's poke caused significant bilateral ocular trauma, including disruption to the superior oblique tendon-trochlear mechanism, according to the medical assessment. Aspinall underwent a five-minute recovery period but could not continue due to impaired vision, prompting referees to halt the fight. He has not trained since the incident and follows strict medical advice to avoid activities that could worsen the condition, such as driving or sparring.

Eye specialist Dr. Aws Al-Hity, who examined Aspinall, described the injury as restricting upward and inward movement in the right eye, leading...