Tom Aspinall’s first heavyweight championship fight ended in controversy when it was declared a no contest due to eye pokes from Ciryl Gane. Aspinall, a top British star, had a challenging year, including a quick victory over Curtis Blaydes in July 2024. He 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, his toughest opponent on paper. However, the fight was halted in the first round due to an unintentional eye poke, allowing Aspinall to retain his title.
The event, UFC 321, featured Gane attempting to secure the 265lb strap after previous failed attempts. Aspinall aimed to impress the audience and put on a show, while Gane showed some nerves but managed to start the fight despite a minor equipment issue.
During the bout, Gane displayed swift and aggressive tactics, causing some damage to Aspinall. However, the fight was halted when Aspinall was poked in the eye accidentally, leading to frustration and complaints from the champion.
Post-fight, Aspinall expressed anger over the incident, while Gane apologized for the outcome and expressed disappointment. Aspinall was taken to the hospital after the fight, and UFC president Dana White indicated a desire to reschedule the heavyweight clash.
In other fights at UFC 321, Mackenzie Dern became the new undisputed women’s strawweight champion, Umar Nurmagomedov secured a victory, and Alexander Volkov emerged victorious via split decision. The main card also saw a light-heavyweight battle ending in a first-round knockout.