Tom Aspinall faced controversy in his first fight as the heavyweight champion when it was declared a no contest due to eye pokes from Ciryl Gane. Aspinall, who last fought in July 2024, had a quick victory over Curtis Blaydes. He was set to fight Jon Jones in a unification bout, but Jones retired without committing to the fight.
During the fight against Gane, Aspinall suffered an unintentional eye poke, leading to the referee stopping the bout and declaring it a no contest. Despite this setback, Aspinall retained his title as the undisputed champion.
The fight between Aspinall and Gane was highly anticipated, with Gane looking to secure the heavyweight strap after a previous failed attempt. Aspinall aimed to showcase his skills but encountered the eye poke incident that halted the fight prematurely.
Aspinall expressed frustration over the eye poke, while Gane apologized for the outcome and expressed disappointment in the fight’s interruption. Aspinall was taken to the hospital after the fight, and UFC President Dana White mentioned the possibility of a rematch.
In the co-main event of UFC 321, Mackenzie Dern became the new undisputed women’s strawweight champion after a tough battle with Virna Jandiroba. The event also saw victories for Umar Nurmagomedov, Alexander Volkov, and Azamat Murzakanov in their respective matchups.