Nasty Eye Poke Blinds Tom Aspinall as Abu Dhabi Crowd Boos Result of UFC 321 Main Event

Tom Aspinall retains the heavyweight championship after Ciryl Gane fight at UFC 321 ends in a no-contest due to accidental eye pokes.

Nasty Eye Poke Blinds Tom Aspinall as Abu Dhabi Crowd Boos Result of UFC 321 Main Event

Tom Aspinall after getting poked in the eye at UFC 321 (Via X)

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The highly anticipated heavyweight clash between Ciryl Gane and Tom Aspinall at UFC 321 came to an abrupt and shocking no-contest. This occurred after an accidental double eye poke rendered Aspinall unable to continue. What was expected to be a defining fight in the division concluded in chaos and disappointment, leaving fans and analysts stunned.

The incident occurred early in the opening round, just as both fighters were finding their rhythm. Gane, known for his precision and striking control, extended his hand during an exchange, and his fingers made contact with Aspinall’s eyes. The referee immediately paused the action as Aspinall recoiled in visible pain and signaled to the officials that he couldn’t see properly, which caused the referee to end the contest.

Aspinall entered the bout with the dream of bringing the golden age of champions back to the heavyweight division. The fight was also his first title defence after the sudden retirement of former champion Jon Jones, which had automatically promoted him from interim to undisputed status. Known for his calm demeanor, Aspinall couldn’t hold back emotions and started cussing when fans booed him.

Gane was seeking to rebound from previous setbacks in title fights. At the same time, Aspinall was aiming to extend his rise as one of the most dominant heavyweights. The result also prompted a comment from controversial influencer and fighter Dillon Danis, who took a shot at Jon Jones’ history with eye pokes. Danis jokingly revealed that this would be the outcome if Jones vs Aspinall ever happened.

Once considered the pinnacle of the sport, the UFC’s heavyweight division has faced a streak of misfortune in recent years. From injuries and fight cancellations to controversial outcomes, the division has struggled to maintain consistent momentum. The Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane fight result also leaves other heavyweights stuck in turmoil, as the division will remain stagnant until a rematch is announced.

Is Alexander Volkov stuck after the lackluster outcome from Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane at UFC 321?

By defeating Jailton Almeida at UFC 321, Alexander Volkov secured that redemptive outcome in the absolute sense and re-established forward momentum in the heavyweight picture. Volkov entered UFC 321 with a narrative of correction hanging over him. This comes after many fans felt he was robbed in his previous fight, which was a disputed split-decision loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC 310.

Alexander Volkov defeats Jailton Almeida at UFC 321
Alexander Volkov defeats Jailton Almeida at UFC 321 (via X)

The fight began with Almeida immediately shooting for a single-leg takedown, forcing Volkov to defend and counter with elbows on top. Volkov landed some clean shots, causing visible damage early. In the second round, Almeida again secured takedowns and controlled portions of the fight, though the referee separated them multiple times. ‘Drago’ remained active when on top and tried to create openings.

In the third, Volkov escaped takedowns quickly and even attempted his own shot, but ‘Malhadinho’ continued to pursue positional control. Almeida spent much of the round holding without heavy offense, prompting late separations. Despite Almeida’s top time, Volkov’s effective strikes and activity led the judges to award him a split-decision victory, marking a crucial win in his comeback.

Volkov’s win positioned him perfectly as the next potential challenger for the winner of Gane vs. Aspinall. The win had strengthened his case for a long-awaited title opportunity. With the controversial no-contest result between Ciryl Gane and Tom Aspinall, the division has once again been thrown into uncertainty. Volkov may now be forced to wait for a rematch to unfold before his own aspirations can move forward.

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