Michael Bisping has raised concerns over the extended recovery period of Tom Aspinall following an eye injury the heavyweight champion sustained in his UFC 321 title clash against Ciryl Gane last October.
During a recent episode of his Believe You Me podcast with Paul Felder, the former middleweight champion described the current situation as “f*cking weird” and questioned why details regarding the injury remain vague.
Michael Bisping pointed out that despite having a YouTube channel and posting content regularly, Tom Aspinall hasn’t shared specifics about his operations or procedures.
The Octagon meeting between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest after an eye poke rendered the champion unable to continue. Since that match, Tom Aspinall has been on the mend, but his return date remains a mystery.
The fighter recently claimed he needs at least another couple of months before he can return to a training camp. This lack of transparency has caused frustration for Michael Bisping, who noted that he recovered from a serious eye surgery in less time than this ongoing “saga” has taken.
Michael Bisping is no stranger to ocular injuries in the UFC. In 2013, he underwent a scleral buckle surgery to repair a detached retina and later lost vision in his right eye entirely.
He recalled withdrawing from a fight with Mark Munoz in October 2013 for that surgery, yet he was able to return to face Tim Kennedy by April 2014. In contrast, Tom Aspinall has been sidelined for over six months now with no sign of a heavyweight title defense being booked in the immediate future.
Michael Bisping questions Tom Aspinall’s medical transparency
The former middleweight champion suggested that the secrecy surrounding the recovery doesn’t align with Tom Aspinall’s active social media presence. “If I wasn’t cleared, because he’s got a YouTube channel, he posts content all the time, you’d talk about it,” Michael Bisping said.
He highlighted the “vague” nature of the updates, comparing it to his own experience where he was open about the “gross” details of his eyeball procedures.
While some divisions move quickly, such as when Makhachev targets two-division glory in scheduled bouts, the heavyweight landscape currently faces a standstill. Michael Bisping mentioned that while he and Tom Aspinall used to have a close relationship, they no longer talk. He suggested that looking “between the lines” indicates something unusual is happening behind the scenes regarding the champion’s availability.
This hiatus comes at a time when other champions are securing massive paydays. Michael Bisping referenced reports of Alex Pereira earning $5 million for an upcoming fight and Ilia Topuria likely receiving similar figures.
By staying on the sidelines, Michael Bisping believes Tom Aspinall is leaving a significant amount of money on the table, especially as an undefeated heavyweight champion of the world on a dominant streak.
Promoter feuds and the Eddie Hearn management deal
A complicating factor in this hiatus may be Tom Aspinall’s new management alliance with Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn. Michael Bisping expressed concern that the heavyweight is being used as a “pawn” in the ongoing dispute between Eddie Hearn and UFC CEO Dana White. The tension between the two promoters has escalated recently, particularly with Dana White’s entry into the boxing market through Zuffa Boxing.
Michael Bisping speculated that this partnership could lead to a “long, drawn-out dispute” that keeps Tom Aspinall inactive. He even suggested the UFC might eventually choose to release him if the situation doesn’t resolve. While other stars like Israel Adesanya face Joe Pyfer and other top contenders in high-profile headliners, Michael Bisping worries the British heavyweight is caught in a promotional tug-of-war.
The lure of boxing-style purses, which Eddie Hearn often champions, was also dismissed by the Hall of Famer. Michael Bisping argued that fighters like Anthony Joshua, who earn $25 million, are “unicorns” in that world.
He emphasized that he simply wants to see the heavyweight champion back in the octagon, noting that Tom Aspinall is a “nice guy” who belongs in MMA competition rather than contract negotiations.
Impact on the UFC heavyweight title landscape
The continued absence of the champion leaves the heavyweight division in a state of flux. Without a confirmed return date, the promotion’s plans for the top of the weight class remain stalled. Michael Bisping’s comments underscore a growing impatience within the MMA community for clarity.
As the sport has evolved from the days of Rousey vs Carano shaping the modern era, fans and analysts now expect more direct communication regarding injury layoffs.
Whether the delay is purely medical or influenced by management strategy remains unconfirmed. However, the comparison to Michael Bisping’s own retinal recovery timeline suggests that six months is a lengthy period for an eye poke injury to keep a champion completely out of camp.
For now, the division waits to see if the “weird” timeline will finally produce a concrete fight announcement in the coming months.
