The UFC 321 main event in Abu Dhabi was poised to be a monumental moment for the heavyweight division, marking the end of a prolonged period of uncertainty that had plagued the weight class. For champion Tom Aspinall, this was his long-awaited opportunity to definitively solidify his reign as the undisputed king after previous booking complications with Jon Jones. The matchup against the dynamic and technically skilled former interim champion Ciryl Gane promised a striking chess match between two of the division’s most agile heavyweights, with fans eagerly anticipating a clear outcome to bring stability to the title picture.
However, the highly anticipated contest concluded in the most abrupt and disappointing way imaginable for UFC viewers, setting off a storm of immediate reactions across the fighter community on social media.
During an exchange within the fight, Ciryl Gane’s fingers accidentally made contact with Tom Aspinall’s eyes, causing a double eye poke that left the champion unable to see.
After taking the entire five allowed minutes to recover from an injury due to a foul, Aspinall informed the officials that his vision had not returned, forcing referee Jason Herzog to wave off the bout and declare a no-contest.
Immediate reactions in the venue from the crowd at Etihad Arena were one of genuine disappointment and frustration, as they were jeering the result with emphatic booing.
A visibly frustrated Aspinall reacted to the disappointed and booing crowd, stating, “What the f—, why are you booing? What am I supposed to do about it? I didn’t do the poke. I can’t see!”
Gane, for his part, was apologetic in his post-fight interview, expressing disappointment for the fans and everyone involved.
The bizarre ending sent ripples through the MMA world, with fellow fighters quickly taking to social media to voice their opinions. Their reactions varied widely, mirroring the overall frustration and speculation surrounding the event:
Eye pokes suck for sure… but it wasn’t knuckle deep. A slight graze!#UFC321
— Corey ‘Overtime’ Anderson (@CoreyA_MMA) October 25, 2025
I had a whole thumb in my @PFLMMA title fight 2 weeks ago, followed by 2 more eye pokes… STILL DOMINATED and couldn’t see until round 2. https://t.co/vfhMF4u2bo
— Corey ‘Overtime’ Anderson (@CoreyA_MMA) October 25, 2025
Hmm 🤔
— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) October 25, 2025
Bruh copping out gane was smacking his nose with the Jab his eye was close no way smh
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) October 25, 2025
Wow the fight ended with an eye poke no contest … The heavyweight division is cursed or what!!! You can not hold up a division for no one. F it put the title up for grabs next week ! 😬😬😬
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) October 25, 2025
Let’s just hope it’s not a serious eye injury for Tom 🙏
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) October 25, 2025
NASTY!!! Watch until the end 💔 wanted a HWY fight!
— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) October 25, 2025
If Gane can poke him in the eye that bad, I mean, imagine Jon Jones #UFC323
— Vince Morales (@vandetta135) October 25, 2025
Even the retired Jon Jones, who many believed was “ducking” Aspinall while he was heavyweight champion, poked fun at the situation, changing his Instagram profile picture of a duck to a duck wearing an eyepatch (picture shared by X account ACD MMA):
🚨🚨 Jon Jones reacts to the Ciryl Gane vs Tom Aspinall fight
…by updating his Twitter and IG “duck” profile pictures to a duck with an eyepatch 😬
via @JonnyBonespic.twitter.com/ieD2CYAnlK
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) October 25, 2025
The controversial nature of the ending inevitably led to speculation from some fighters, who questioned the severity of the injury and the champion’s willingness to continue, adding yet another layer of controversy to the result.
This no-contest result places the UFC’s heavyweight division in a familiar state of limbo. UFC CEO Dana White acknowledged the ending and confirmed that the promotion would almost certainly book an immediate rematch between Aspinall and Gane.
It does not help the champion’s case that the first round was very competitive, with Gane starting to land solid jabs that bloodied up Aspinall’s nose. Unfortunately for him, this will make fans question whether or not he could have actually beaten Jones while he was still in the promotion.
During the post-fight press conference, he answered whether or not there would be an immediate rematch in a reluctant tone, saying, “Yeah. Total pain in the ass, but yes.”
This is a logical step, as the division is currently light on established title contenders, with Aspinall having already defeated several of the top-ranked fighters.
Despite being the champion, Aspinall has averaged only about one minute of octagon time per year over the last three years, and this no-contest does little to build his legacy or clarify the hierarchy at the top of the division.
The UFC fans and the organization’s fighters now wait to see when the rematch will be scheduled, hoping for a conclusive end to a rivalry that has, so far, only produced more questions.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
