Tom Aspinall cannot proceed after Ciryl Gane pokes each eyes in UFC major occasion

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Tom Aspinall’s return to the octagon in Abu Dhabi didn’t go as deliberate on Saturday night time, as his bout with Ciryl Gane shortly ended after an unintended poke within the eye.

Actually, Gane hit each of Aspinall’s eyes late within the first spherical, in the end resulting in the no-contest in the primary occasion of the night time.

However Aspinall saying he couldn’t proceed the combat led to boos from the gang and widespread debate from followers and consultants alike, together with former UFC fighter and present ESPN analyst Chael Sonnen.

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Britain's Tom Aspinall reacts after being hit within the eye whereas preventing Ciryl Gane throughout their UFC heavyweight title bout at UFC 321 at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi early on October 26, 2025. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP by way of Getty Photos)

"Being poked within the eye is against the law, however to combat with one eye is quite common," Sonnen mentioned on ESPN’s 321 post-match present. "The opponent is attempting to hit your eye, he’s attempting to bust you up and make your nostril bleed. In order that a part of it, it does have a query mark for guys like Anthony [Smith] and I. We are attempting to be well mannered. We are attempting to indicate grace, however in all equity, you’re the heavyweight champion of the world. You’ve bought to combat with one eye at occasions."

Video replay confirmed that Gane clearly landed each of his fingers in Aspinall’s eyes, although the heavyweight champion was holding an ice pack on his proper eye after the match. He was heated throughout his post-match interview with Daniel Cormier.

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"Guys, I simply bought f------ poked knuckle-deep within the eyeball. What the f---, why you booing? What am I presupposed to do about it, I didn’t do the poke. I can’t see! That is bull----. The combat was simply getting going. Full bull----."

Aspinall added that he may "hardly open my eye."

Ciryl Gane punches Tom Aspinall within the UFC heavyweight championship combat in the course of the UFC 321 occasion at Etihad Area on Oct. 25, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Whereas there have been some who wished to see Aspinall proceed to combat, fellow MMA fighter Sean O’Malley defended him due to how harmful Gane is.

"You’re the UFC heavyweight champion of the world, you simply bought poked within the eye very unhealthy, and also you’re preventing a really harmful kickboxer. Very harmful kickboxer. It's arduous to face in entrance of a human being with that prime stage of abilities and combat him with two eyes. Now, you’re illegally poked within the eye – it wasn’t a proper hand that broke his orbital [bone], eye swells up and he can’t see. That’s completely different.… Tom Aspinall would combat by that."

On the time of the incident, Gane seemed to be giving Aspinall all he may deal with, as Aspinall's nostril was bloodied earlier than the double-poke. And being this was a title combat, the gang and everybody concerned at UFC would’ve liked to see a correct end.

Tom Aspinall reacts after being hit within the eye whereas preventing Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi early on October 26, 2025. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP by way of Getty Photos)

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Aspinall, the 32-year-old from England, hadn’t been within the octagon since July 2024 when he dropped Curtis Blaydes one minute into the primary spherical. Aspinall bought redemption for dropping simply 15 seconds into his earlier bout with Blaydes in July 2022 after struggling a knee harm on a kick.