UFC 321 main event ends in no-contes. The highly anticipated heavyweight title bout between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 ended abruptly in the first round due to an accidental eye poke.
The UFC heavyweight division was once again on fire as Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane clash in UFC 321 main event. The heavyweight showdown between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane took place inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, October 25th, 2025. The fight ended abruptly in the first round when Gane accidentally poked Aspinall in both eyes.
Since joining the UFC, Tom Aspinall has proven to be a rare blend of speed and finishing instinct. The British powerhouse has quickly turned heads with a string of dominant wins that put him right in title contention. Aspinall’s recent victories speak for themselves. He stunned the world at UFC 295 when he knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in the first round to capture the interim heavyweight title. Before that, he made an explosive comeback from injury by stopping Marcin Tybura in front of his home crowd at UFC London. His earlier victories over veterans like Alexander Volkov, Sergey Spivak, and former champion Andrei Arlovski showcased his all-around game inside the Octagon.
His opponent Ciryl “Bon Gamin” Gane put on a flawless performance in Paris against Serghei Spivac, dismantling him with clean combinations and body shots that forced a TKO stoppage. Before that, he knocked out fan-favorite Tai Tuivasa in a thrilling war that lit up the Accor Arena. He also had wins over Alexander Volkov Derrick Lewis, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. However, his biggest tests came in championship bouts. Gane fell short against Francis Ngannou in 2022, losing by decision after being outwrestled in the later rounds. Then, in 2023, he suffered a quick submission defeat to Jon Jones.
The UFC 321main event started with both fighters engaging in striking exchanges. Aspinall initiated the action with a body kick, while Gane responded with a quick combination, landing a straight left and a right hook. Aspinall continued to press forward, landing a significant right hand that seemed to momentarily stagger Gane. However, Gane maintained composure and countered with a well-timed overhand right.
As the round progressed, both fighters engaged in a series of exchanges, each trying to impose their will. Aspinall’s aggression and volume were met with Gane’s precision and movement, creating an exciting back-and-forth exchange. At approximately 4:35 into the round, during an exchange, Gane accidentally poked Aspinall in both eyes while Aspinall tried to block a kick.. The ringside physician came in to check on Aspinall but he repeatedly stated that he couldn’t see with his eyes Aspinall could not continue, so referee Jason Herzog stopped the fight, and it was officially declared a no-contest.
“Guys I just got f*cking poked knuckle deep in the eyeball. Why are you booing?” Aspinall shouted at the crowd in Abu Dhabi. “What am I supposed to do about it? I didn’t do the f*cking poke. I can’t see.” With a wet cloth covering his eye, he quickly sought medical attention, understandably upset after waiting 15 months for a fight only to have it end this way. “This is unfair,” Aspinall said. “The fight was just getting started. I’m really angry. I can barely open my eye. Both eyes got poked.”
“I feel sorry, I’m very sorry about that for the crowd, for the fans,” Gane said. “I’m sorry for Tom Aspinall. I’m sorry for myself. I’m really disappointed but this is the sport. I don’t know what’s going to happen for the future. We will see.” Even though the fight ended suddenly, Tom Aspinall is still the champion. Ciryl Gane apologized for the accidental eye poke. Fans will now be looking forward to a rematch or the next big fight in the division.
