Tom Aspinall Turns Pirate for Halloween After Brutal Ciryl Gane Eye Poke

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall turns a painful setback into humor after his controversial no-contest with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.

Tom Aspinall Turns Pirate for Halloween After Brutal Ciryl Gane Eye Poke

Tom Aspinall turns pirate for Halloween (via BBC)

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In combat sports, fighters often turn painful setbacks into moments of humor to cope with disappointment and stay connected with fans. Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall recently did just that, finding a playful way to address his misfortune against Ciryl Gane. What started as a serious in-fight injury soon turned into a lighthearted social media moment when Aspinall referenced it on Halloween.

The incident occurred at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, where Aspinall defended his heavyweight title against Gane. Early in the first round, Gane accidentally struck Aspinall’s eyes with his fingers during an exchange, prompting the referee to call the bout a no-contest at the 4:35 mark after the Brit indicated he could no longer see. The ending halted what had promised to be a headline-defining fight for both men.

Rather than adopt a purely somber tone, Aspinall used the Halloween period to address the event more lightly. He posted a photo of himself wearing an eye patch and signaled with visual humor that he was still part of the story despite the no-contest result. He also posted a picture of Gane as the popular horror character Freddy Krueger, who has long fingers, which acted as a subtle nod to the eye poke stoppage.

Following the stoppage, Aspinall underwent medical evaluation and was taken to the hospital for further tests. His father, Andy Aspinall, then revealed that his son still “can’t see anything” out of his right eye and that the left eye was only functioning at about 50 per cent. However, Aspinall was also met with scrutiny from the MMA community, as many termed him a “quitter” for discontinuing after the foul.

The British champion’s Freddy Krueger reference also threw shade at Gane’s past fights, in which the Frenchman has several instances of questionable contact, including eye and back-of-head strikes. While the eye poke was ruled accidental, it fueled ongoing discussions about fighter safety and conduct in UFC fights. The post also underscored Gane’s growing reputation for frequent fouls inside the Octagon.

Tom Aspinall’s lighthearted Halloween post served as a reminder that even in a brutal sport, humor can be a powerful tool for resilience. By turning an unfortunate moment into a playful statement, he shifted attention from controversy to character. It reflected his ability to balance toughness with personality, reinforcing why he remains one of the most relatable and respected figures in modern MMA.

Herb Dean talks about fighters committing intentional eye pokes after Tom Aspinall’s UFC 321 injury

Eye pokes have become a persistent issue in mixed martial arts, with fighters like Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane often cited as repeat offenders. These incidents have changed the course of major fights and raised concerns about safety and officiating. Despite updates to rules and gloves, both accidental and questionable fouls continue to trouble high-profile bouts, prompting calls for stricter oversight.

Herb Dean talks about intentional eye pokes in MMA
Herb Dean talks about intentional eye pokes in MMA (via Sky Sports, MMA Fighting)

The issue resurfaced at UFC 321 when Tom Aspinall’s title fight with Gane ended in a no-contest after an accidental eye poke. The controversial finish once again drew attention to the fighter’s responsibility and the referee’s intervention. Veteran official Herb Dean also weighed in, revealing that some athletes have admitted to committing intentional fouls during their careers.

There are some good people, and they’re not doing fouls on purpose. Then there are a lot of guys that say, ‘Well, every groin kick that I ever did was intentional.’ And these are guys, once they’ve retired, they’re telling me, ‘Oh yeah, that fight when you refereed me, that was intentional when that happened.’

Herb Dean via Helen Yee Sports

For Tom Aspinall, the incident was especially devastating, marking his first title defense since being promoted to undisputed heavyweight champion to kickstart his era. The eye poke ended his chance to prove that status against a top contender and left his reign clouded in uncertainty. Instead of solidifying his position, Tom Aspinall left Abu Dhabi facing recovery and the hope of a fair rematch.

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