Aspinall-Gane No-Contest After Accidental Eye Poke

Tom Aspinall defended his undisputed UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, but the bout was ruled a no‑contest at 4:35 of the opening round after an accidental double eye poke left Aspinall unable to see and he was taken to a local hospital. UFC president Dana White called the finish a “shitty ending,” said only Aspinall knows whether he could have continued, praised Gane’s showing and confirmed plans for an immediate rematch. The stoppage drew boos and heated debate across the MMA community about whether Aspinall could or should have continued. Off the mat, Aspinall has stirred controversy by saying he would rather vacate the belt than fight teammate Ante Delija — a stance White publicly condemned as “insane.” Ranked among the division’s most explosive fighters with a record of early finishes, Aspinall says he plans to stay active and pursue big fights to cement his legacy after the planned rematch.