Eye Poke Ends UFC 321 Heavyweight Title Fight No-Contest in Abu Dhabi

The UFC 321 heavyweight title fight between champion Tom Aspinall and challenger Ciryl Gane ended prematurely due to a double eye poke that left Aspinall unable to continue, resulting in a no-contest. Daniel Cormier revealed backstage that Aspinall's left eye suffered a severe injury, with bandages still covering it after the fight, highlighting the seriousness beyond what fans saw. UFC President Dana White described the situation as a "nightmare," emphasizing the difficulty in forcing fighters to continue and confirming Aspinall was hospitalized for evaluation. Ciryl Gane apologized, calling the incident an accident, while Aspinall expressed frustration with the crowd's boos, insisting he could not fight due to not being able to see. The fight, which was expected to be a defining moment in the heavyweight division, ended in chaos and disappointment, leaving the division's momentum stalled and setting the stage for a likely rematch. The incident adds to recent challenges in the UFC heavyweight division, which has faced injuries, cancellations, and controversial outcomes.