UFC legend empathizes with Tom Aspinall after Dana White’s ‘dismissive’ comments at UFC 324 press conference

UFC CEO Dana White’s recent update on Tom Aspinall’s medical condition raised eyebrows among fans, pundits, and fellow fighters.

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall continues to undergo treatment for significant eye injuries he suffered against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. Months removed from the fight, Aspinall has seen numerous eye specialists and undergone multiple surgeries to correct his vision in both eyes.

UFC CEO Dana White raised eyebrows when he alluded to Aspinall choosing ‘not to continue’ at UFC 321 after suffering multiple eye pokes just minutes into the fight. This drew the ire of the heavyweight champion, who responded to White’s criticism by defending himself and questioning why he should fight on after suffering from a foul.

White didn’t make things easier with his latest remarks after UFC 324. At the post-fight press conference, White sarcastically dismissed talking a lot about Aspinall’s condition after drawing heat with his past comments.

Aljamain Sterling encourages Dana White to show ‘grace’ to Tom Aspinall

In a recent tweet, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling came to Aspinall’s defense after White’s scrutinized remarks.

Tom Aspinall reacts to Dana White’s comment about his eye injury at the post fight press conference

“About me? I didn’t even fight last night. Catching strays in my own living room on a Sunday morning.” 😂

(Via @AspinallMMA)
pic.twitter.com/GRiGLQ14Dp

— SleeperKO (@SleeperKO) January 26, 2026

“I’ve been where Tom is right now,” Sterling said of Aspinall.

“He can fight and win, and people are still gonna find some way to bring it up and make a complaint about it as if it’s not in the past and as if he wasn’t affected by it. I’ve always said when Dana does things like this, the casual fans eat it up.

“It doesn’t take much to just show your fighters some grace,” Sterling continued. “It doesn’t cost anything [LAUGHS]. It’s free!”

Sterling knows a thing or two about dealing with White’s at-times impulsive behavior towards his fighters. Luckily, the two sides have mended fences, as Aspinall hopes to do in his anticipated return to the Octagon.

Do you think Dana White is being too dismissive of Tom Aspinall’s eye injury? Let us know in the comments!