Josh Hokit questions Tom Aspinall’s eye injury

Hokit again casts doubt on Aspinall’s lengthy absence.

Josh Hokit thinks Tom Aspinall’s eye injury should not be taken very seriously, considering that former UFC fighter Michael Bisping lost an eye back then and still kept fighting.

Tom Aspinall had to take a break from the Octagon for the entire year of 2026 due to his eye problems. This began in October 2025 when he suffered a poke in his eye during a fight against Ciryl Gane. Although he initially assumed he’d be able to return quickly for a rematch with Ciryl Gane, the process was significantly delayed, and Tom Aspinall ultimately decided to relinquish the title. However, Josh Hokit has made it clear that he doesn’t really believe this story about the eye problems. He thinks Tom Aspinall was instead trying to get out of his UFC contract. On the “Believe You Me” podcast, Josh Hokit told Michael Bisping that he should be respected for continuing to fight despite losing an eye, while at the same time taking a shot at Tom Aspinall.

“But at least you were trying to find a way, you know when you get poked in the eye and it’s like immediately ‘I can't see,’ yeah no ‘sh*t’ you can’t see, take five minutes. He wasn’t even trying, at least you were trying, that’s why you’re the king of England”

Tom Aspinall is expected to return in early 2027. If everything goes smoothly, he might even be spared another surgery. What do you think of the latest allegations?

I think it’s a very strange comparison, and yet another ill-considered statement from Josh Hokit. I don’t believe for a second that Tom Aspinall is making anything up to get out of his contract or anything like that. I think these are ridiculous accusations.