Aspinall vs Gane live: Reaction as UFC 321 fight ruled no-contest by eye-poke
Britain’s Tom Aspinall saw his first defence of the undisputed heavyweight title finish in a gutting no-contest
Tom Aspinall’s long-awaited return to the UFC Octagon ended in bizarre and dispiriting fashion on Saturday, as his contest with Ciryl Gane was derailed by an eye poke.
In the very first round of Aspinall’s first defence of the undisputed heavyweight title, he was poked in both eyes at the same time, leading to a five-round pause in the action.
But after Aspinall was checked on by officials, it was deemed that the Briton could not continue, and the UFC 321 main event was declared a No Contest due to an “accidental foul”.
It was a deflating and unexpected ending in Abu Dhabi after so much hype, with Aspinall due to defend the undisputed belt after being elevated from interim champion this summer, following the retirement of Jon Jones – who held the official belt at the time.
Elsewhere tonight, Mackenzie Dern overcame Virna Jandiroba to win the vacant women’s strawweight title, and local favourite Umar Nurmagomedov beat Mario Bautista. Follow live updates and results below, as The Independent reports from Abu Dhabi.
UFC 321: Tom Aspinall suffers early eye-poke as main event with Ciryl Gane ends in gutting no-contest
What Dana White had to say after UFC 321
Following the conclusion of UFC 321 and the no-contest main event, Dana White said: "I mean, I feel the way everybody feels. Great showing, s****y ending. I think that after the [Jon] Jones fight, a lot of people wrote Ciryl Gane off, he looked damn good tonight. Looked like we were in for a few rounds."
Will the UFC book a rematch?
"Yeah, total pain in the a***, but yes. I mean, they're both in shape – other than whatever is wrong with his eye. Both guys are not injured, so, as soon as possible."
Medical update on Aspinall?
"He's on his way to the hospital."
Is there a way to determine if an eye poke is intentional?
"Who the f*** knows? Who gives a s***? What are you going to do?"
The UFC trialled then ditched new gloves last year, based on eye-poke issues.
"No matter what you do with the gloves, it's going to do happen."
UFC star Nathaniel Wood: ‘I blamed my opponent when my newborn daughter was in intensive care’
“I’m blaming this guy for putting my daughter in the intensive care unit.” No, these are not the deranged ramblings of a man disconnected from reality. This was how UFC fighter Nathaniel Wood got in the frame of mind to do his job when his newborn, with a hole in her heart, was fighting for her life.
Wood, who was victorious at UFC 321, speaks to Will Castle in an incredibly open exclusive interview:
UFC star Wood: ‘I blamed my opponent for my newborn daughter being in intensive care’
UFC 321 star Ludovit Klein overcomes gruesome broken ankle to beat Mateusz Rebecki
Ludovit Klein overcame a broken ankle to beat Mateusz Rebecki on Saturday, earning an unlikely win at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi.
Fighting Rebecki in a lightweight preliminary fight, Klein looked sharper than his opponent in the striking exchanges and was defending the Pole’s takedown attempts well.
With that, Klein appeared to build a two-round lead heading into the third and final frame, but in that round, Rebecki took down the Slovak.
Klein, 30, turtled up and was forced to try to survive Rebecki’s ground and pound for the majority of the round, with the Pole also bleeding onto him from above – thanks to the earlier damage that Klein had dealt the 33-year-old.
Klein, to his credit, actually threw his own offence from below, but he was largely absorbing punches and elbows as he somehow made it to the final buzzer.
However, he could not stand upon the conclusion of the fight. And when the scorecards confirmed a majority-decision win for Klein (29-28, 28-27, 28-28), he was forced to celebrate while sat on a stool.
UFC 321 star overcomes gruesome broken ankle to secure unlikely win
How Tom Aspinall, the UFC’s nice guy, became the baddest man on the planet
“I f***ing stink,” Tom Aspinall warns me, raising his eyebrows as I tentatively approach the pristine, freshly-laid, black and white mats in his gym. There are graver warnings one could be issued by the UFC heavyweight champion – a status that comes with the moniker “The Baddest Man On The Planet”. But herein lies the great paradox around Aspinall: he is the baddest man on the planet – technically, the most-skilled hand-to-hand combatant on Earth – yet he is one of the nicest people you could encounter.
Things didn’t go to plan tonight, but if you need a reminder of Aspinall’s character, Alex Pattle has you covered with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into his regiment:
How Tom Aspinall, the UFC’s nice guy, became the baddest man on the planet
Mackenzie Dern celebrates title win with daughter in special moment
It wasn’t all doom and gloom tonight!
Elsewhere on the UFC 321 main card
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