British heavyweight sensation Tom Aspinall's highly anticipated homecoming fight ended in bitter disappointment and controversy after an accidental eye poke forced a premature conclusion to his UFC Manchester main event against Ciryl Gane.
Frustrating Finish in Manchester
The AO Arena fell into stunned silence when referee Marc Goddard halted the contest just 54 seconds into the opening round. Aspinall had landed a clean jab to Gane's face, but his outstretched fingers made direct contact with the Frenchman's right eye, leaving 'Bon Gamin' in immediate distress.
Despite being given the full five minutes to recover, Gane was unable to continue, forcing officials to declare the bout a no contest. The anti-climactic ending left Aspinall visibly frustrated as his dream homecoming turned into a nightmare scenario.
Aspinall Demands Immediate Rematch
Speaking to reporters post-fight, the Manchester native didn't mince words about his desire to run it back. "I want the rematch, I want it as soon as possible," Aspinall declared. "That's not how I wanted to win. I came here to put on a show for my hometown fans and this is just heartbreaking."
The British star acknowledged the accidental nature of the foul but emphasised his eagerness to settle the score properly. "I'm devastated for Ciryl, I'm devastated for the fans, and I'm devastated for myself. We need to do this again and give the fans the fight they paid to see."
What's Next for the Heavyweight Division?
The unsatisfactory conclusion throws the UFC's heavyweight plans into temporary disarray. Both fighters were positioned as top contenders, with the winner potentially earning a title shot against the winner of the upcoming Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic championship bout.
UFC officials are now faced with a difficult decision: book an immediate rematch or allow both fighters to pursue different opponents while the title picture clears up. Given the circumstances and fan demand, an Aspinall-Gane sequel appears the most logical next step.
For now, British fight fans are left wondering what might have been, while Aspinall waits anxiously for the chance to prove himself against one of the division's most dangerous contenders.
