“Didn’t Want to Continue” – Upset Dana White Sneakily Blames Tom Aspinall for UFC 321 Sudden Halt 

UFC CEO Dana White wasn't pleased with the unfortunate ending of UFC 321's main event between champion Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane.

“Didn’t Want to Continue” – Upset Dana White Sneakily Blames Tom Aspinall for UFC 321 Sudden Halt 

Dana White questions Tom Aspinall for not continuing to fight against Ciryl Gane following the eye poke (via X)

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Last night at the main event of UFC 321, Tom Aspinall fought Ciryl Gane in a much-anticipated heavyweight title fight. Despite all the hype and buildup surrounding the match-up, things didn’t go as expected as Aspinall got poked in the eye. The champion was unable to continue after the incident, and the fight was declared a no-contest, disappointing everyone watching.

From the very beginning, both fighters came out strong, engaging in sharp exchanges, refusing to back down, thrilling the crowd. During one of those intense sequences, the Frenchman managed to bloody Tom Aspinall before accidentally poking both of the champion’s eyes. 

After the unfortunate eye poke, Tom Aspinall was given sufficient recovery time by the referee, but he ultimately couldn’t continue fighting. Following the controversial ending, UFC CEO Dana White discussed the incident in detail, openly questioning Aspinall’s willingness and true intentions. 

I feel the way everybody feels. Great showing, shi**y ending. I think that after the [Jon] Jones fight, a lot of people wrote Ciryl Gane off. He looked damn good tonight. Total pain in the (expletive) but yes (immediate rematch). As soon as possible. It’s unfortunate that it ended the way it did. There will probably be a lot more interest in rematch after they saw, you know, he (Gane) had Tom bloodied up and Tom didn’t wanna continue. 

Dana White via UFC 321 post-fight interview 

Aspinall and White’s relationship has long been rocky, with the British heavyweight previously mocking the CEO’s constant obsession with Jon Jones. Throughout the UFC 321 fight week, the tension between the two was clearly visible, fueled by several underlying disagreements. White hated that Aspinall publicly confirmed that he would never fight Croatian heavyweight Ante Delija in the UFC as he is a teammate.

The UFC CEO has repeatedly emphasized that personal friendships should never interfere with the professional nature of the fighting business. Apart from that, Aspinall’s father, Andy, has been frequently vocal about pushing his son toward making a potential boxing debut. Andy, who has coached Tom Aspinall for several years, strongly believes his son can become a heavyweight boxing champion by 2028.

He has also cited that the UFC doesn’t pay fighters enough money, which might have rubbed White the wrong way. Nevertheless, White has already confirmed an immediate title rematch between Aspinall and Gane, and it would be interesting when things get finalized. 

Tom Aspinall gets slammed for allegedly quitting at UFC 321

Following the incident, Tom Aspinall was visibly struggling to see, feeling frustrated and confused with the unfortunate way the fight ended. The crowd expressed their dissatisfaction loudly, booing at the champion, but the UK native immediately protested against their reaction. Aspinall questioned the booing audience and explained that the replay showed Ciryl Gane’s fingers deep inside his eye socket.

Tom Aspinall gets eye poked against Ciryl Gane
Tom Aspinall gets eye poked against Ciryl Gane (via X)

The contender looked equally disappointed and sat silently in the middle of the Octagon, unable to fully process the situation. As expected, the result sparked an intense debate across social media, with numerous fans accusing Aspinall of intentionally quitting. Even UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen joined in on the criticism, harshly addressing the controversy without sugarcoating his strong opinion.

To fight with one eye is very common. You’re the heavyweight champion of the world. You gotta fight with one eye at times. I’ve checked out of fights before, I know what it looks like. I knew he was done…If you get poked in the eye and can’t see then generally in our sport, that’s just something you gotta push through.

Chael Sonnen via ESPN MMA 

Following the incident, the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira took the opportunity to mock the entire UFC heavyweight division. The fighter has been planning his eventual heavyweight move for quite some time now, and this moment gave him leverage. He also received a confirmation from former heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who accepted his offer to fight at the White House event.

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