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UFC 321 Ends in Disappointment: Aspinall-gane Fight Declared No Contest After Eye Injury
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The highly anticipated UFC 321 main event between heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and challenger Ciryl Gane ended in a frustrating “no contest” after an accidental eye poke stopped the fight with just over a minute remaining in the first round. The bout,contested for the heavyweight belt,was halted after Gane’s left hand made contact with Aspinall’s eyes,causing meaningful swelling and rendering the champion unable to continue.
The incident occurred during an exchange approximately four minutes into the opening round. Aspinall sustained a deep injury to both eyes, and despite a brief stoppage to assess the damage, he could not regain sufficient vision to safely resume fighting. The decision was met with boos from the Abu Dhabi crowd.
This outcome is a significant setback for both fighters. Aspinall, who recently won the title, was unable to cement his reign. Gane, having previously fallen short against francis Ngannou and Jon Jones in title bids, saw another opportunity slip away not through defeat, but through an unfortunate accident.
“It is a huge blow for the Frenchman,moved after this cruel decision for him and an outcome that neither of the two fighters wanted,” reports indicate.
While Gane initially hurt Aspinall with a strike earlier in the round, the unintentional foul ultimately resolute the fight’s conclusion. The future of a rematch between the two remains uncertain, requiring further negotiation to reschedule the bout. Fans and fighters alike are hoping to see a definitive conclusion to this heavyweight clash, played out to its natural end.
