Imagine stepping into the octagon, ready to defend your hard-earned heavyweight title, only to have it all end in a split second due to an accidental eye poke. That’s exactly what happened to Tom Aspinall at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, leaving fans and fighters alike in a state of disbelief. But here’s where it gets controversial—was this truly the only way the fight could have ended, or did the referee’s call leave room for debate? Let’s dive into the details.
In what was supposed to be Tom Aspinall’s first defense of his undisputed heavyweight title, the bout against Ciryl Gane took an unexpected turn at the end of a fiercely competitive first round. Gane, in an attempt to land a punch, accidentally poked Aspinall in both eyes, forcing the referee to halt the contest. The British fighter, visibly distressed, could be heard telling the ringside doctor, ‘I can’t see,’ as he clutched a cloth to his injured eyes. With Aspinall unable to continue, the referee declared the fight a no contest, allowing Aspinall to retain his title—though not in the way he had envisioned.
The crowd’s reaction was immediate and harsh, booing the outcome as Aspinall expressed his frustration in the post-fight interview. ‘Guys, I just got poked knuckle-deep in the eyeball. Why are you booing? I can’t see,’ he said, his disappointment palpable. ‘The fight was just getting going. I can hardly open my eye. Look! It was a double eye poke,’ he added, emphasizing the severity of the injury. Aspinall was later taken to the hospital and did not attend the post-fight news conference.
And this is the part most people miss—the referee’s decision to call it a no contest hinged on the foul being deemed accidental rather than intentional. Had it been ruled intentional, Gane would have been disqualified, handing Aspinall a win by default. Gane, too, was visibly annoyed, pacing the octagon and shaking his head as the result was announced. ‘I feel sorry,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry for the crowd, for the fans, for Tom Aspinall, and for myself. We put a lot of energy into this fight, so I’m disappointed, but this is the sport, this is life.’
The fight was hyped as the beginning of a new era in the UFC’s heavyweight division, and Aspinall’s setback is particularly devastating given his stated goal of revitalizing the division. Fans had rallied behind Aspinall throughout fight week, chanting ‘Tommy Aspinall’ in the arena, only to see their support turn to jeers when the bout was stopped. Aspinall, who had been upgraded from interim champion in June after Jon Jones’ retirement, had spent 19 months waiting for his shot at the undisputed title. His seven first-round finishes in eight UFC wins had made him a fan favorite, but Gane’s skilled footwork and strategic attacks kept Aspinall on the defensive, with blood already pouring from his nose before the eye poke occurred.
But here’s the real question: Could this fight have been ruled differently, and what does this mean for the future of the heavyweight division? UFC president Dana White expressed his frustration at the outcome during the post-fight news conference, announcing plans for a rematch once Aspinall recovers. With UFC 323’s main events already set, Aspinall could aim for a spot on the UFC 324 card in January. This isn’t Aspinall’s first setback—he’s no stranger to adversity, having bounced back from a serious knee injury in 2022 to win his next three fights in dominant fashion. Yet, for both Aspinall and the heavyweight division, this feels like another blow after years of stagnation, with only four undisputed title fights in nearly four years.
From Francis Ngannou’s injury-plagued reign to Jon Jones’ brief tenure and subsequent refusal to commit to fighting Aspinall, the division has struggled to find consistency. Meanwhile, in the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern secured the strawweight title with a unanimous decision over Virna Jandiroba, and Nathaniel Wood continued his winning streak with a hard-fought victory over Jose Delgado.
As we reflect on UFC 321, it’s hard not to wonder: What could have been? And what does this mean for the future of the heavyweight division? Is the no-contest ruling fair, or should there be a different approach to handling such incidents? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s far from over.
