UFC Veterans Weigh In on Controversial Eye Poke That Halted Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane at UFC 321
Last night at UFC 321, Tom Aspinall clashed with Ciryl Gane in a highly anticipated heavyweight championship fight. From the beginning, both fighters showcased sharp striking exchanges, thrilling the Abu Dhabi crowd with calculated punches and kicks. However, in the fourth minute, Gane accidentally poked the British champion’s eye, forcing the referee to halt the unfortunate contest immediately.
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.
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