UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping advises Tom Aspinall to take his time recovering from eye surgery, warning of potential career-ending risks, based on his own experience with eye injuries.
Few people have the clout to advise Tom Aspinall like UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping. Bisping’s insights carry weight, especially regarding Aspinall’s future.
Aspinall, the reigning UFC heavyweight champ, is facing surgery after a nasty eye poke from Ciryl Gane. This injury, sustained in October, has left his return uncertain.
Joe Rogan, UFC commentator, warns that the injury could be career-ending. It’s a grim prospect, but Bisping knows the risks all too well.
“I had about five or six eye surgeries,” Bisping shared on YouTube. “Tom’s facing surgery, maybe just a tendon realignment, but things can go wrong.”
Bisping’s own retina issues forced his retirement. Surgeries left him with glaucoma, and he now wears a prosthetic eye.
Looking back, Bisping regrets rushing his recovery. He advises Aspinall to take his time, emphasizing patience over haste.
“The one thing you can’t do with an eye is rush back,” Bisping stressed. “I did, and I never saw out of that eye again.”
Aspinall’s critics claim he’s avoiding a Gane rematch, but Bisping dismisses them. “He’s not a duck. He wants to come back and kick Ciryl Gane’s ass.”
Bisping isn’t sure about Aspinall’s exact procedure. Yet, he knows there’s no such thing as minor surgery when vision is at stake.
Despite medical advancements, Bisping couldn’t save his vision. He hopes Aspinall’s outcome will be different.
“They did their best, but I went blind,” Bisping reflected. “For Tom, fingers crossed, he’ll be OK.”