UFC 321: No-Contest in Heavyweight Main Event

In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the heavyweight main event of UFC 321 ended in disappointment as champion Tom Aspinall and top contender Cyril Gane were unable to proceed, resulting in a no-contest ruling.

Both fighters started off strong, but a double eye poke halted the action at 4:35 of the first round, leading to an official timeout. Aspinall, who holds a record of 15-3, lost sight in his right eye during the break, and the fight was deemed a no-contest shortly after.

This was Aspinall’s first title defense as the undisputed heavyweight champion.

A visibly frustrated Aspinall expressed, “What can I do? I can’t see,” as boos resonated from the crowd. “This is (expletive). The battle has just begun.”

Gane, who has a record of 13-2, knelt in disappointment upon the announcement. He stated, “I’m disappointed. I’m very sorry about that.”

UFC president Dana White didn’t hide his annoyance about the fight’s abrupt conclusion. He broke from his usual practice of refraining from promising rematches and indicated that a rematch would be organized. “I feel the same way that everyone feels. It was a great show, but it ended in a poor way,” he remarked. White also noted that both fighters were in good health, albeit with some eye issues.

Aspinall began the fight aggressively, landing notable strikes on Gane. Meanwhile, Gane, known for his quick footwork, maintained control in the center of the cage. He effectively countered Aspinall’s moves, landing solid jabs and low kicks until the eye incident occurred.

Co-Main Event Highlights

The co-main event featured fifth-ranked Mackenzie Dern, who claimed the vacant strawweight title by unanimous decision against top-ranked Vilna Jandilova. Both fighters showcased their skills, but Dern’s left hand proved more impactful.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Dern fell to her knees as her name was announced as the new champion. “It feels great,” she said, adding that the victory was for her daughter, Moa, who joined her in the cage, proudly wearing a UFC belt on her shoulder.

Undercard Results

In other bouts, second-ranked Umar Nurmagomedov secured a unanimous decision victory over No. 8 Mario Bautista in a bantamweight clash.

Heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov edged out No. 5 Geirton Almeida by split decision.

In the light heavyweight division, tenth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov recorded a quick first-round stoppage against No. 7 Aleksandar Rakic, marking his sixth consecutive victory in the UFC.