The heavyweight division endured a dramatic night at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, but not for the reasons many had hoped. Tom Aspinall’s first defense of his undisputed heavyweight title ended abruptly when Ciryl Gane unintentionally poked him in the eyes, forcing a no-contest in the opening round.
For Jon Jones, the former champion and one of the sport’s all-time greats, it was a moment to strike again at Aspinall.
Another Shot at Aspinall
Jones’ reaction came first in a subtle but clear social media change. He replaced the duck in his profile picture with one wearing an eyepatch—a direct reference to the UFC 321 incident.
He followed up by sharing a post comparing the length of his own fight against Gane to the abbreviated Aspinall-Gane bout. Jones captioned it, “Never forget who the GOAT is.” The graphic highlighted the quick finish he achieved against Gane in 2023, underscoring the contrast with the no-contest outcome from Saturday.
Aspinall’s Hospital Visit and Eye Exams
Aspinall was immediately taken to a hospital in Abu Dhabi following the fight. Footage from his Instagram showed him undergoing detailed medical exams to determine the extent of the damage. Doctors reassured him that while further testing is needed back in the UK, “nothing dangerous” was found. The champion’s footage documented the seriousness of the incident, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the aftermath.
Despite the abrupt ending, the UFC and its fans are left considering the rematch possibilities. Aspinall will need time to recover, but the incident has also given Jones an opportunity to remind the MMA world of his dominance and long-standing legacy.
