Tom Aspinall's highly anticipated return to the Octagon ended in disappointment on Saturday night after his bout against Ciryl Gane was declared a no contest due to an accidental eye poke. The British heavyweight champion, making his first appearance since being promoted to undisputed titleholder, had the fight stopped deep in the first round after Gane's fingers made contact with both of Aspinall's eyes.
The fight, headlining UFC 321, was Aspinall's chance to prove himself after a tumultuous period. He had last fought in July 2024, knocking out Curtis Blaydes in just over a minute. That victory set up a potential unification bout with Jon Jones, but Jones retired in June, leaving Aspinall as the undisputed champion. Gane, a former interim champion, was seen as his toughest test yet.
Gane started aggressively, using his jab and leg kicks to trouble the Briton. Aspinall began to bleed from the nose after absorbing several jabs. However, the momentum shifted when Gane extended his hand and inadvertently poked Aspinall in the eyes. Referee Jason Herzog immediately halted the action, allowing Aspinall five minutes to recover.
Aspinal was heard telling the cageside physician, 'His f***ing finger was right in my eyeball mate,' while also stating he could not see. After the timeout, the referee declared the bout a no contest, leaving both fighters frustrated. The result continues a challenging year for Aspinall, who had hoped to make a statement in his first title defence.
For Gane, the no contest may have been his last chance at the heavyweight title, having previously come up short in two attempts. The Frenchman was visibly disappointed, having looked sharp in the opening exchanges. The UFC has yet to announce a rescheduling of the fight.
