Professional MMA fighter Tom Aspinall was rushed to the hospital following his bout with Ciryl Gane, which was declared a no contest due to an accidental eye-poke. Aspinall, a British athlete, was crowned the undisputed champion earlier this year following Jon Jones’ unexpected retirement from the sport. His last fight before UFC 321 was in July 2024 when he successfully defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes in Manchester.
Seeking to make up for lost time, Aspinall eagerly accepted a match with Gane, a French fighter experienced in title bouts. However, the highly anticipated main event in Abu Dhabi took a drastic turn during the first round when Gane inadvertently poked Aspinall in both eyes. Despite being given a five-minute recovery period, Aspinall experienced vision issues in his right eye, leading to the fight being called off and him being swiftly taken to the hospital.
Known for his aggressive style, Aspinall faced early pressure from Gane, who landed multiple strikes before the eye-poke incident. Referee Jason Herzog intervened, pausing the fight as Aspinall struggled with his vision. Expressing frustration post-fight, Aspinall denounced the eye-poke’s impact on the match.
Gane expressed regret over the fight’s outcome and hinted at a rematch opportunity. UFC President Dana White confirmed plans to reschedule the heavyweight showdown despite the unforeseen circumstances at UFC 321.