Tom Aspinall’s first heavyweight title fight ended in controversy as the match was declared a no contest due to eye pokes from Ciryl Gane.
The British fighter has had a challenging year, with his last appearance in July 2024 resulting in a quick victory over Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall was set to face Jon Jones in a unification bout, but Jones retired before committing to the fight.
Promoted to undisputed champion, Aspinall faced Gane in what was expected to be a tough battle. However, the fight was halted in the first round after an unintentional eye poke, allowing Aspinall to retain his title.
Critics speculated if this was Gane’s final chance at the 265lb title, given his previous unsuccessful attempts. Aspinall entered the fight determined to impress, while Gane, though initially forgetful, showed agility and speed in his attacks.
The French fighter dominated the early exchanges, causing some damage to Aspinall. Despite a brief momentum shift, the fight took a turn when Gane accidentally poked Aspinall in the eye, leading to a temporary stoppage.
Aspinall voiced frustration over the incident, while Gane expressed regret for the outcome and the fight’s interruption. Aspinall was taken to the hospital after the match, with Dana White confirming plans for a rematch.
In other UFC 321 highlights, Mackenzie Dern claimed the women’s strawweight title, Umar Nurmagomedov and Alexander Volkov secured victories, and Aleksandar Rakic scored a first-round knockout.
