Tom Aspinall’s UFC title defence ends in no-contest after eye-poke
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Tom Aspinall's (left) heavyweight title defence fight against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest after Gane accidentally poked both of Aspinall’s eyes.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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ABU DHABI – Tom Aspinall’s first Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title defence did not go according to plan, as an anti-climactic ending saw Ciryl Gane accidentally poke both of Aspinall’s eyes (15-3-1 MMA) at 4:35 of round 1 at UFC 321.
The fight was ruled a no-contest, likely setting up a rematch between the pair. The UFC has yet to decide on the situation either way.
Aspinall and Gane (13-2, 1 NC MMA) were both visibly upset, as until the accidental foul, both traded punches and looked for a fight-finishing KO/TKO sequence.
Aspinall was still trying to process what had happened, struggling to see in his post-fight interview.
“This is b******t,” Aspinall said. “The fight was just getting going.”
Gane said he would entertain a rematch with Aspinall, apologising for his actions. It is still up to the promotion, though.
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen,” Gane said. “I don’t know about the future.”
In the co-headliner, Mackenzie Dern became the new UFC women’s strawweight champion with a unanimous decision win against Virna Jandiroba, 48-47, 48-47, 49-46. Despite only landing two takedowns, Dern (16-5 MMA) out-struck Jandiroba (22-4 MMA) throughout the fight in significant clinch strikes (18-2).
Dern had little to describe becoming champion, holding back tears. “It’s amazing,” Dern said.
The loss for Jandiroba put an end to her five-fight winning streak.
Bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov rebounded in a big way with a unanimous decision win against Mario Bautista, taking the cards 30-27, 30-27, 30-27. Nurmagomedov (19-1 MMA) halted Bautista’s (16-3 MMA) eight-fight winning streak and survived a Round 2 knee to win the fight based on pushing forward and volume striking.
At heavyweight, Alexander Volkov outlasted Jailton Almeida in a battle of top 10 contenders, earning a split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) to remain in UFC heavyweight title contention.
Volkov (39-11 MMA) admitted following the fight that it “wasn’t so good,” but his round 3 clinch work against the fence was enough to halt Almeida’s (22-4 MMA) momentum as a potential surging challenger.
UFC 321’s main card got underway with light heavyweight No.10-ranked Azamat Murzakanov of Russia earning his 12th win by KO/TKO, catching Austria’s No. 7-ranked Aleksandar Rakic with a right hook at 3:11 of the opening round.
Murzakanov (16-0 MMA) improved to 6-0 in the UFC. He is second in the division with the longest active streak and five stoppage victories. Rakic (14-6 MMA) has dropped his previous four fights, having not entered the win column since March 2021. REUTERS
