A rare and unfortunate eye poke brought a shocking end to the UFC 321 heavyweight title fight between England’s Tom Aspinall and France’s Ciryl Gane at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night.
What was billed as a clash of power and precision ended prematurely when Gane’s fingers accidentally poked both of Aspinall’s eyes midway through the first round, leaving the Briton unable to continue. The bout was declared a no-contest — a first of its kind for a UFC heavyweight title fight.
Aspinall, who had claimed the belt vacated by Jon Jones’ retirement, entered as the favourite with 0.6 odds to Gane’s 1.5. But it was Gane who looked sharper early on, bloodying Aspinall’s nose and forcing him on the defensive.
When Gane threw a left kick followed by a sweeping arm motion, his fingers caught Aspinall’s face, piercing both eyes. The Englishman took a prolonged medical timeout before officials called off the contest. He was later taken to hospital, reportedly unable to see clearly even two hours after the fight, which ended at around 2.30am UAE time.
Gane Apologises, White Promises a Rematch
I am sad. I knew I had this in the bag, and it was looking like it. I apologised to Tom — it was an accident, but I feel bad.
UFC President Dana White did not mince words, saying the promotion would have to “run it back” soon. “We cannot force fighters to fight. Only Tom knows how bad it is. If he can’t fight, he can’t fight. So, yes, we’ll do this all over again — as soon as possible,” White said.
Dern Triumphs in Strawweight Title Clash
In the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern delivered a commanding performance to defeat Virna Jandiroba and capture the strawweight title in their all-Brazilian rematch.
I knew that since we are both grapplers, the fight could go to the ground. But I wanted to show my striking too. I worked hard on all aspects of my game — even striking — so I feel amazing.
As soon as her victory was announced, Dern’s six-year-old daughter Moa joined her in the Octagon, sharing a heartwarming moment as she proudly placed the championship belt around her mother’s waist.
“It feels different now — being the one others will challenge,” said Dern. “They say winning a belt is hard, but keeping it is harder.”
Dhabi: A Lucky Charm for Dern
Ranked fifth before the fight, Dern secured her second world title in Abu Dhabi — the same city where she won her first-ever major crown as a black belt at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Professional Championship.
Abu Dhabi is definitely my lucky charm. Even my daughter loves it here. I wish I could have all my fights in this place.
Salkilld Stuns Haqparast with Knockout of the Night
The highlight of the preliminary card came courtesy of Australian fighter Quillan Salkilld, who delivered a spectacular flying kick knockout against Afghanistan’s Nasrat Haqparast just two and a half minutes into their lightweight bout.
The perfectly timed kick landed flush on Haqparast’s temple, leaving him motionless for nearly two minutes as medics rushed in. Fortunately, he later regained consciousness, though the crowd remained stunned.
“It was worth all the hassle. It was gangster shit, man — especially on 11 days’ notice.
The Australian, who earned the Fight of the Night bonus, immediately called for a main-card spot in his next appearance. “I’d love to fight again in a month, maybe even at home if UFC comes to Australia,” he said.
As for celebrations, Salkilld had simpler plans: “I just want to try sheesha in Abu Dhabi and enjoy some local hospitality tonight.”
