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Tom Aspinall has been met with another setback, and he’s hoping to avoid going under the knife yet again.

UFC CEO Dana White had fight fans talking when he spoke to reporters during the post-fight press conference for a boxing title fight (WBC) between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn this past Saturday. White confirmed that he’d be having discussions about Aspinall’s status as the UFC heavyweight champion.

It didn’t take long for the Salford native to issue a statement where he revealed he has relinquished the top prize in UFC’s heavyweight division. Aspinall said an “accident” has led to an issue with his right eye that is preventing him from being granted medical clearance.

During Monday’s episode of “The Ariel Helwani Show,” further details were reported. Helwani revealed that Aspinall will be waiting until early 2027 before he knows whether or not another surgery will be required.

“They’re now telling him that he needs to come back in January,” Helwani said. “That he just needs to wait. He needs to let the eye heal. Rest up. Don’t get hit. Don’t get scraped. Don’t have any issues. Come back in January, and hopefully that’s enough time for the cells to rejuvenate, regenerate, and get back to 100 percent. If they don’t, that could mean a fourth surgery, and a third on the right eye, which would obviously be devastating.”

As Helwani mentioned, Aspinall was forced to undergo multiple surgeries after being poked in both eyes by Ciryl Gane in their Oct. 2025 title fight. An infection was one of the earlier setbacks, but this latest issue was due to Aspinall reinjuring his right eye during a sparring session. Helwani noted that Aspinall was preparing for a rematch against Gane, which would’ve taken place in November.

There is good news, as Helwani revealed that Aspinall’s team is optimistic about a return to the Octagon. How long it will take before the former heavyweight champion is able to move past this nightmare scenario remains to be seen.

Do you think Tom Aspinall will eventually return to the Octagon? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM