Britain’s Tom Aspinall retained his UFC heavyweight title via no contest in an anticlimactic end to his bout against Ciryl Gane that saw him struggling to see and rushed to hospital.
The champion was defending his belt in Abu Dhabi, and received widespread support from those in attendance as he made his way to the octagon. Gane was booed, but appeared focused.
Aggression was shown early on by both men, with Aspinall landing early blows before Gane hit back in the opening round. As he then attempted a takedown, the favourite found himself bleeding from his nose.
Then, disaster struck. As Aspinall attempted a kick, Gane went at his rival with a punch and invertedly raked his fingers across his eyes. A five-minute timeout ensued, and the doctor stepped in.
Aspinall was spotted telling the doctor: ‘I can’t see,’ with the doctor himself telling the referee that he had ‘no immediate concerns about the globe’.
After four minutes of the five allocated, however, the fight was waved off as a no-contest.
WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE
After the fight, as Aspinall was interviewed, fans booed, and the Mancunian wasted no time hitting back.
‘Guys, I just got f***ing poked knuckle deep in the eyeball,’ he said. ‘What the f***? Why you booing? What am I supposed to do about it? I didn’t do the f***ing poke. I can’t see.
‘This is bull****. The fight was just getting going. Complete bulls***. I’m p****d off.
‘I can hardly open my eye. Look! F***ing double poke, both eyeballs.’ Aspinall then headed to hospital.
Gane, who cut an emotional figure after the fight, said: ‘I am very sorry for that. For the crowd, for the fans, for everybody.
‘Sorry for Tom Aspinall, sorry for myself.’
It was the first time Aspinall had been in action in 15 months and the first time he had been promoted to undisputed champion following the retirement of Jon Jones.
The likes of Wayne Rooney were in attendance to cheer on the 32-year-old, but the bout came to an anticlimactic close just four minutes into the first round.
For the Salford-born star, the task was simple in theory and he had expressed his excitement at his return to action. He was keen to build a body and a game that can match Gane’s pace while still carrying the raw power that made him champion in the first place.
Aspinall sat down with Daily Mail Sport ahead of fight week in Abu Dhabi to explain what that looks like – the training, the recovery, and the relentless structure behind a title defence that could redefine British heavyweight MMA.
Aspinall’s camp for Gane was less about invention and more about refinement, sharpening his natural strengths without losing efficiency. At 32, with a rebuilt knee and a belt to defend, the work had to be precise. Every day was mapped out.
‘Mondays we grapple,’ he said, laying out his week as if he’s reading from a spreadsheet. ‘Tuesday, we spar MMA. Wednesday, technique and pads. Thursday, sparring again. Friday, fitness work. Saturday, sprints.’
