Tom Aspinall’s first heavyweight championship fight ended in controversy when the bout was declared a no contest after the British fighter suffered eye pokes from Ciryl Gane.
This year has been challenging for Aspinall, who last competed in July 2024, securing a quick victory over Curtis Blaydes to settle a rivalry.
Initially set to face Jon Jones in a title unification match, Aspinall’s plans were disrupted when Jones retired without committing to the fight. Aspinall was later promoted to undisputed champion.
The highly anticipated battle between Aspinall and Gane was cut short in the first round due to an unintentional eye poke, leading to the fight being halted and declared a no contest.
Following the incident, Aspinall was taken to the hospital for evaluation. UFC president Dana White expressed interest in rescheduling the heavyweight clash.
In other UFC 321 highlights, Mackenzie Dern claimed the women’s strawweight title, Umar Nurmagomedov secured a victory, and Alexander Volkov emerged triumphant. The main card also featured a light-heavyweight bout that ended in a devastating first-round knockout.
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