Following the eye poke incident, Aspinall was granted sufficient time to recover fully, but unfortunately, he was unable to continue. As expected, the crowd erupted loudly with boos, expressing their frustration, which upset Aspinall, prompting him to visibly protest against their reaction. Gane also appeared disappointed by the outcome and immediately apologized sincerely for his accidental mistake inside the octagon. 

UFC veterans react to Tom Aspinall getting eye poked by Ciryl Gane at UFC 321

The controversial no-contest sparked intense debate across the MMA community, drawing reactions from UFC veterans and passionate fans worldwide. UFC CEO Dana White expressed visible frustration, openly questioning Tom Aspinall’s determination and motivation to continue the compromised fight. Veteran analyst Chael Sonnen criticized Aspinall harshly, accusing the British fighter of surrendering too easily after suffering the eye poke. “To fight with one eye is very common. You’re the heavyweight champion of the world. You gotta fight with one eye at times,” said Sonnen via ESPN MMA. 

On the other hand, former UFC champion Sean O’Malley defended Aspinall’s decision, explaining that competing against a skilled fighter like Gane demands full physical potential. According to “Suga,” Aspinall isn’t the type of fighter who would quit easily, without a severe injury. Fellow countryman and the UK’s first UFC champion, Michael Bisping, also supported Aspinall, stating the champion had too much to lose fighting with impaired vision.

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How to avoid eye pokes in MMA 

Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson also pitched into the discussion and mentioned how eye pokes are unavoidable in MMA. According to DJ, for humans, it’s a natural reaction to open their hands with fingers sticking out in order to protect themselves. Many experts have talked about changing the conventional MMA gloves to avoid such incidents.

UFC veteran Jim Miller commented on the UFC 321 incident, emphasizing that eye pokes are dangerous, often cause serious injuries. He suggested implementing point and purse deductions for accidental or intentional eye pokes, believing current rules fail to deter fouls. Nevertheless, fans are currently waiting for the title rematch between Aspinall and Gane.

READ MORE: “I will become champion” – Umar Nurmagomedov Calls Out Champion Merab Dvalishvili After Defeating Mario Bautista at UFC 321

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The post UFC Veterans Weigh In on Controversial Eye Poke That Halted Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

This fight represented Aspinall’s very first title defense after earning the championship following Jon Jones’ official retirement from UFC. Given Aspinall’s history of early finishes, fans eagerly anticipated seeing him replicate those decisive performances against the former interim champion.  Both fighters began aggressively, engaging in technical exchanges without retreating, showing confidence and skill in the opening moments of combat.

At the 4:35 mark of the first round, the referee Jason Herzog halted the fight due to an accidental eye poke by Gane. Aspinall immediately stopped and held on to his right eye and was given several minutes to recover. However, the champion failed to continue, and the fight was declared a no-contest, resulting in severe booing from fans. 

Aspinall was disappointed and didn’t appreciate the negative energy from the Abu Dhabi crowd. “What the f***. Why you booing? What am I supposed to do about it, I didn’t do the poke. I can’t see. Complete bullsh*t, I’m pissed off. I can hardly open my eye,”  said Tom Aspinall in the Octagon interview. Ciryl Gane couldn’t believe the decision and broke down in the middle of the Octagon, and also apologised to fans. The fighter had high hopes of winning the heavyweight title in his third attempt, but didn’t expect such a result. 

Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane rematch confirmed 

Eye pokes in the UFC are a frequent hazard, often unintentionally caused during close striking exchanges, significantly disrupting fights. Eye pokes have dramatically impacted several high-stakes bouts, with fighters being forced to pause or even lose matches. Prevention strategies include modifying glove design, adjusting finger padding, and enforcing stricter refereeing to reduce accidental eye contact.

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Rule enforcement, glove redesign, and education could collectively decrease the frequency of eye pokes, preserving fighter safety and match integrity. Medical protocols require immediate attention, but long-term vision risk remains, highlighting the need for both regulation and fighter awareness. Following the recent eye poke at UFC 321, Aspinall was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. 

Following the event, UFC President Dana White spoke to the media, confirming an immediate title rematch between the two heavyweights. White praised Gane’s performance, emphasizing that the rematch promises excitement and a chance for both fighters to settle unfinished business. It will be intriguing to observe when these elite heavyweights return to the Octagon. 

READ MORE: “I will become champion” – Umar Nurmagomedov Calls Out Champion Merab Dvalishvili After Defeating Mario Bautista at UFC 321

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The post Accidental Eye Poke Halts UFC 321 Main Event: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Ends in a ‘No Contest’ first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Following that bout, the French heavyweight took time away from competition to work on his recently released Netflix movie debut. Despite his busy schedule, ‘Bon Gamin’ has remained disciplined, dedicating himself fully to training and recently discussed the sacrifices he made. “I’ve made some selfish choices for this camp. I’ve not seen my family for almost three months. Sometimes, you have to make these choices for your life… But I know that if I go home with the belt, I’m going to be a happy father. Everyone in my family knows this, so they are OK with that,” said Ciryl Gane via TNT Fight Sports. 

Gane is a former UFC interim heavyweight champion, has already challenged for the undisputed title on two separate occasions. In his first attempt, he suffered a tough defeat against the powerful striker Francis Ngannou. During his second title opportunity, Gane faced Jon Jones, who quickly submitted him in the early rounds with dominant grappling control.

Now, the heavyweight enters UFC 321 with renewed determination, claiming that his past experiences have prepared him for success. Gane revealed that he has developed a special strategy to defeat Tom Aspinall this weekend, emphasizing relentless pressure. Recently, he was spotted focusing heavily on wrestling training sessions, signaling major improvements in his ground defense and offense. Confident and composed, the Frenchman has boldly stated that he plans to take the British champion into deep waters.

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Tom Aspinall isn’t concerned about Ciryl Gane’s potential threat 

Tom Aspinall is currently regarded as one of the most dominant and dangerous fighters in the UFC’s stacked roster. He has demolished some of the most skilled heavyweights in the sport with his unmatched speed, accuracy, and knockout power. Aspinall possesses the kind of devastating punching power that can put any opponent to sleep within just the first two rounds.

Ahead of his upcoming bout, the British powerhouse has confidently promised to finish Ciryl Gane in a similar destructive fashion. Interestingly, Aspinall’s father boldly predicted that the fight would end decisively within the opening three minutes of the first round. Reports suggest that Aspinall is already looking past Gane, eyeing a future superfight against the dangerous Brazilian striker Alex Pereira.

There have also been discussions about the Englishman considering a switch to professional boxing due to the UFC’s low pay. Regardless of his long-term plans, it will be fascinating to see how this high-stakes heavyweight showdown unfolds inside the octagon this weekend.

READ MORE: Conor McGregor Fires Shots at Islam Makhachev, Predicts Easy Win for Jack Della Maddalena

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The post Ciryl Gane Opens Up on Sacrifices Before Third Title Attempt at UFC 321 vs. Tom Aspinall first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.

Aspinall possesses one of the most dangerous knockout powers in the entire UFC heavyweight division, making him a true threat. He has already finished several top-ranked heavyweights in dominant fashion, often ending fights within the very first round. Ahead of his upcoming title bout, Aspinall has boldly promised to deliver the same devastating finish to Gane at UFC 321. “If you’re a human being and I hit you with full power in the face, you’re going over. And that goes for Ciryl Gane. It’s going to be hard work avoiding that one shot for 25 minutes.” said Tom Aspinall via UFC. 

Aspinall enters UFC 321 riding a dominant three-fight knockout streak, with his most recent victory coming against Curtis Blaydes. However, the champion has been inactive for nearly fifteen months, spending valuable time waiting for the Jon Jones fight, which never happened. Now determined to regain momentum, Aspinall aims to stay active and plans to kickstart his run by defeating Ciryl Gane. Aspinall is in peak condition, confident in his power, and believes Gane poses no real threat to his dominance.

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Ciryl Gane’s road to heavyweight redemption

A few months ago, Ciryl Gane was focused on shooting his  Netflix movie, taking a short break from competition. Now, the French superstar is ready to make his highly anticipated return to the Octagon in top fighting form. This will be his third shot at UFC gold after previous title losses to Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones. 

Widely regarded as one of the most technical heavyweights ever, ‘Bon Gamin’ is known for his elite striking precision. Recently, Gane was spotted sharpening his grappling skills by training with a highly accomplished Iranian wrestling champion. As he prepares to face Tom Aspinall this weekend, fans are eager to see what tactical approach Gane employs.

READ MORE: Top 3 Fights Fans Are Excited to Watch in 2025

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The post “You’re going over’-Tom Aspinall Predicts Brutal Finish Against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 first appeared on Sidekick Boxing.