Tom Aspinall Ciryl Gane UFC 321 Heavyweight Title Fight Ends No-Contest Eye Poke

Tom Aspinall's first UFC heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 ended in a no contest after Gane accidentally poked Aspinall in the eye early in the first round, leaving Aspinall unable to continue. Despite the injury, Aspinall retains the belt, but the abrupt stoppage frustrated both fighters and fans, with boos heard from the crowd. Aspinall expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that the fight was just beginning before the eye injury, while Gane also shared his regret over the outcome. This incident adds to the ongoing uncertainty in the heavyweight division, previously impacted by Jon Jones' inactivity and retirement considerations. A rematch between Aspinall and Gane is expected, with other contenders like Alexander Volkov and Derrick Lewis potentially in line for future title shots. The heavyweight division remains in flux, awaiting decisive bouts to establish a clear champion and contenders.