Tom Aspinall has revealed unseen moments from behind the scenes of UFC 321, where his heavyweight title defense ended early after Ciryl Gane accidentally poked him in both eyes.
The fight, held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, was stopped in the first round when Aspinall told officials he couldn’t see clearly from his right eye. Referee Jason Herzog ruled the bout a no-contest as the crowd voiced its frustration. The British champion was quickly escorted to a nearby hospital for further checks.
Backstage Frustration: “All That Training for That”
Aspinall later posted a video on Instagram capturing his immediate reaction backstage. Speaking to Daniel Cormier, he vented over the abrupt ending.
“All that training for that,” Aspinall said, clearly upset. “What the f*** is he doing?”
Cormier responded, “The left one was really deep.”
“They were both bad,” Aspinall replied. “He got warned twice before it! Twice before he got warned for it. Then he did it again!”
The footage also shows Aspinall undergoing medical evaluation as he prepared to head to the hospital for an eye exam.
Concern From Aspinall’s Father
In the same clip, Aspinall’s father expressed his fear about the possible long-term impact of the injury, comparing it to the vision loss once suffered by former UFC champion Michael Bisping.
“Mike Bisping, he lost his eye,” his father said. “It’s horrendous for a parent to think about. If it’s your son and he could lose an eye, that’s terrifying. He’s got children; something needs to be done.”
Despite the alarming nature of the incident, Gane was not penalized, and the official result remained a no-contest.
Rematch Expected After Medical Clearance
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed after the event that the promotion plans to rebook the fight once Aspinall receives medical clearance. December or January dates are currently being discussed.
As Aspinall continues recovery, his hospital footage and emotional reaction have reignited debate about fighter safety and the need for clearer penalties for accidental fouls inside the Octagon.
