Tom Aspinall faced a disappointing outcome in his first heavyweight title defense when his bout with Ciryl Gane was ruled a no contest. The long-anticipated clash between the two fighters took place in Abu Dhabi, with Aspinall entering as the favorite. However, it was Gane who initially took the lead with his sharp jabs causing trouble for the champion.
During the fight, Gane accidentally poked Aspinall in both eyes, leading to a temporary halt in the action. Despite being given five minutes to recover, the bout was ultimately declared a no contest by referee Jason Herzog, much to the disappointment of the audience.
Aspinall’s return to the UFC had been eagerly awaited by fans, following his previous victories, including claiming the interim heavyweight title and successfully defending it against Curtis Blaydes. The British fighter had been set to face Jon Jones in a unification bout, but Jones retired without committing to the fight.
The fight against Gane was seen as Aspinall’s toughest challenge yet, but the match was cut short due to the unintentional eye poke. This unexpected turn left many eager to see how Aspinall would fare in his next defense.
In a separate event, Almeida and Volkov’s fight ended in a split decision, with Almeida dominating the match without posing a significant threat. The judges’ scorecards reflected a close contest, with opinions divided on the outcome.
The main card of UFC 321 kicked off with a thrilling light-heavyweight showdown between Rakic and Murzakanov, which saw Murzakanov deliver a stunning knockout victory. Another impressive performance came from Salkilld, who knocked out Haqparast with a powerful head kick, showcasing his skills in the octagon.