Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Tom Aspinall has won eight of his 10 UFC fights
ByPaul BattisonBBC Sport Journalist- Published31 minutes ago
Curtis Blaydes says he is "rooting" for former opponent Tom Aspinall to return to the UFC after the Briton underwent surgery on both eyes earlier this year.
Heavyweight champion Aspinall has not fought since October, where his fight with Ciryl Gane was deemed a no-contest when he could not continue after suffering repeated eye pokes from the Frenchman.
The eye pokes, which Gane says were accidental, left Aspinall dealing with double vision, black spots and vertigo.
The 32-year-old had surgery to correct his symptoms, and although he has since returned to light training, he has not given a timeframe for when he will be fit to fight again.
American Blaydes, who fights Josh Hokit at UFC 327 in Miami, Florida on Saturday, beat Aspinall in 2022 before losing a rematch between the pair two years later.
"I hope Aspinall comes back. I'd hate to see a great athlete lose their position because of injury," said Blaydes.
"I'm rooting. I hope the eye rehab is going well. Right now it's just a lot of speculation, but I'm hopeful for him."
Blaydes was asked for his thoughts on Aspinall after being quizzed on Gane's interim heavyweight title fight against Alex Pereira at the UFC's White House event on 14 June.
The winner of the fight is likely to go on and face Aspinall for the undisputed title, if and when the Manchester fighter is fit to return.
Aspinall suffered his only UFC defeat to Blaydes when he injured his knee in the first round of their contest in 2022.
He avenged the loss when he defended his interim belt in a rematch between the pair in 2024.
Aspinall was later upgraded to undisputed heavyweight champion when former title holder Jon Jones retired in 2025.
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Media caption,Modestas Bukauskas backs training partner Aspinall to rally from eye injury
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