British UFC star Tom Aspinall's dream homecoming headline bout at UFC 304 in Manchester hangs in the balance after the interim heavyweight champion sustained a worrying eye injury during training camp.
The Salford fighter shared disturbing images of his bloodied and swollen eye on social media, revealing he'd been accidentally poked in the eye during sparring. The injury has thrown his July 27th main event appearance into serious doubt, with medical professionals now assessing the damage.
Training Camp Nightmare for British Champion
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aspinall detailed the unfortunate incident: "I got poked in the eye, it's pretty bad. I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit worried about it. I've never had an eye injury before and it's not great timing with the fight coming up."
The 31-year-old immediately sought medical attention, undergoing scans to determine the extent of the damage. While he remains hopeful of recovering in time, the uncertainty has created significant concern within his camp and among British MMA fans.
UFC 304 Main Event Under Threat
This injury scare couldn't have come at a worse time for Aspinall, who was set to defend his interim title in what would be the biggest fight of his career on home soil. The Manchester card represents a landmark moment for British MMA, with Aspinall positioned as the headline attraction.
Veteran UFC fighter Matt Brown weighed in on the situation during his podcast, emphasising the seriousness of eye injuries in combat sports: "Eye pokes are no joke. Depending on the severity, this could be a fight-ender. The UFC will need contingency plans if Tom can't compete."
Race Against Time for Recovery
Medical experts suggest corneal abrasions or more serious internal damage could require weeks of healing, potentially jeopardising Aspinall's ability to complete his training camp and receive medical clearance to compete.
The British heavyweight now faces an anxious wait as specialists monitor his recovery progress. UFC officials are undoubtedly preparing backup options, but replacing a fighter of Aspinall's calibre for a main event in his hometown would prove challenging.
Fans and pundits alike await further updates, hoping Britain's UFC standard-bearer can recover in time to showcase his skills before a passionate Manchester crowd.
