Andy Aspinall: My son could lose his sight, he has children to raise

After the tragic extremity of UFC 321, Tom Aspinall has spoken retired for the archetypal time, showing however disappointed and shaken helium is. The British heavyweight, who was expected to support his undisputed rubric against Cyril Gane successful Abu Dhabi, experienced 1 of the astir embarrassing moments of his career. In the archetypal circular of the match, helium received a dense stroke to the oculus and could nary longer proceed the fight, and referee Jason Herzog declared the combat a “no contest”.

After the fight, Aspinall was instantly taken to the hospital, and connected his Instagram illustration helium posted a abbreviated video with moments down the scenes and during the examination. The visibly annoyed 27-year-old combatant talks to Daniel Cormier and says: “So overmuch training, each for this.” He past adds: “What the hellhole is that feline doing?”

Cormier replies: “His near oculus is truly bad.”

The rubric contender replies: “Both are bad. He warned him doubly before! Twice! And helium does it again!”

At the bosom of household care

In the continuation of the video, his father, Andy Aspinall, appears, who is visibly shaken and speaks astir the seriousness of the situation. “Mike Bisping mislaid an oculus successful a akin situation,” says Andy; "It's horrible to adjacent deliberation astir arsenic a parent. People tin accidental what they want, but erstwhile you're that genitor and your lad could suffer his show and he's got kids to raise... past you cognize thing has to change."

Unfortunately, thing has changed. Cyril Gane was not penalized, and the combat ended arsenic a "no contest". 

Dana White said aft the amusement that helium volition effort to put a rematch arsenic soon arsenic possible, but it is not known erstwhile Aspinall volition beryllium acceptable to return.

The incidental sparked a superior statement astir the rules and penalties for punches to the eyes, arsenic specified situations are excessively often repeated without authorisation successful MMA. For now, Aspinall is astatine location with a impermanent blindfold and the feeling that his archetypal existent rubric defence has been, rather literally, taken distant from him.