Tom Aspinall UFC 321 Return Ends in No Contest After Accidental Eye Poke by Ciryl Gane

Tom Aspinall's much-anticipated return to UFC competition ended abruptly and controversially at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi when he was accidentally poked in both eyes by challenger Ciryl Gane, rendering him unable to continue. The foul occurred early in the first round, leading to a five-minute medical timeout before the fight was declared a No Contest, much to the displeasure of the crowd. Aspinall, who had been promoted to undisputed heavyweight champion following Jon Jones' retirement, expressed frustration at the outcome and the crowd's reaction, emphasizing that the eye pokes were accidental and out of his control. Gane, who had been gaining momentum in the fight, also apologized for the incident, which was recognized as an unfortunate but inherent risk in the sport. The match stoppage means Aspinall retains his undisputed heavyweight title, but both fighters and UFC officials are expected to arrange a rematch to resolve the unfinished contest. This incident marked a disappointing end to Aspinall's first title defense after a 15-month hiatus from the Octagon.