Dana White denies negative remarks about Tom Aspinall after eye-poke incident

UFC president Dana White has addressed recent remarks about Tom Aspinall after the heavyweight bout with Ciryl Gane. The fight ended in a no-contest when Aspinall suffered an eye poke, leaving him with ongoing vision issues. White insists he did not make negative or derogatory comments about the Briton.

Event recap and White's clarification

In Las Vegas, the clash between Aspinall and Gane ended after an eye poke. The official result was a no contest and Aspinall later said his vision was blurred and he may need surgery. The incident sidelined him from training.

White's postfight clarification

During the postfight press conference White said that remarks can be taken out of context and that he and his team are checking on Aspinall. He stressed that he is not a doctor and that his comment was about healing time rather than criticism.

Aspinall's reaction

Aspinall later spoke on his YouTube channel, saying he was disappointed by White's response because his eyesight was still affected after the poke.

Rematch and return plans

White left the door open for a rematch, but Aspinall has not resumed training and might require eye surgery, with no clear return date yet.

Referee and safety notes

Veteran referee Herb Dean noted that officials will look to enforce point deductions for eye pokes more consistently to protect fighters and deter fouls.

Expert comment

Expert comment: A veteran MMA official said eye pokes are a safety concern and that clearer penalties could reduce such fouls. Strong enforcement is seen as essential for fighter safety and fair competition.

Summary

To recap, White says his comments were not negative toward Aspinall but about the recovery timeline. Aspinall remains away from training and could require surgery, with a potential rematch then depending on his return. Fans should watch how Aspinall progresses and when a new date for a rematch is discussed.

Key insight: Dana White insists his statements were not negative or derogatory toward Tom Aspinall, focusing instead on the fighter’s eye injury and healing timeline. BBC Sport coverage.

Key takeaway: White clarifies his stance — no negative remarks, only concern for the athlete’s recovery.