UFC Veterans Question Tom Aspinall's Extended Break After Eye Injury

Former UFC fighters Michael Bisping and Paul Felder are publicly questioning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall regarding his long recovery timeline following eye surgery.

Aspinall has been out of action since undergoing double eye surgery in February. The injury happened during his October title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, where an accidental eye poke ended the match in a frustrating no-contest. Because of the delay, the UFC has set up an interim title fight between Alex Pereira and Gane for later this month. While the winner is supposed to fight Aspinall to unify the belt, the champion has not given a clear date for his return, causing frustration within the division.

During a recent episode of the Believe You Me podcast, Felder speculated that the disappointing end to the Gane fight might have left Aspinall bitter. He suggested the champion's quick rise to fame could be making him feel above regular competition, especially considering how rarely he has actually fought over the last three years.

Bisping, who famously won a world title while dealing with severe eye damage, also expressed skepticism. Comparing Aspinall's situation to his own recovery from a major eyeball surgery, Bisping noted that his own return to the cage was much faster than what is happening now. He criticized Aspinall for being too vague about his medical details, hinting that the champion's secrecy suggests there is something else going on behind the scenes.