Tom Aspinall was swiftly taken to the hospital after his bout with Ciryl Gane was declared a no contest due to an accidental eye-poke incident.
Earlier this year, Aspinall was crowned the undisputed champion following Jon Jones’ unexpected retirement. His last fight prior to UFC 321 was in July 2024 when he successfully defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes in Manchester.
Eager to get back in action, Aspinall accepted a fight with Gane to make up for lost time. Although Gane had previously fallen short in two undisputed title fights, UFC 321 marked his third attempt.
During what was anticipated to be a thrilling main event in Abu Dhabi, disaster struck in the first round when Aspinall suffered accidental eye pokes from Gane. Despite being given five minutes to recover, Aspinall expressed difficulty seeing out of his right eye, leading to the fight being called off and Aspinall being rushed to the hospital.
Known for his explosive starts, Aspinall faced a tough challenge from Gane, who aggressively attacked with jabs and kicks early on, causing blood to flow from Aspinall’s nose.
After the eye-poke incident, the referee halted the fight, and despite efforts to resume, it was eventually declared a no contest due to Aspinall’s eye injury. Aspinall, frustrated by the turn of events, voiced his displeasure before being taken for medical attention.
Gane, apologetic for the situation, expressed regret over the fight’s outcome and its impact on both fighters. UFC President Dana White confirmed plans to reschedule the heavyweight showdown after the unfortunate end to UFC 321.