Tom Aspinall’s heavyweight championship bout faced controversy as the fight ended in a no contest due to eye pokes from Ciryl Gane. This marked a challenging year for the British star, who had a quick victory over Curtis Blaydes in July 2024.

Initially set to unify against Jon Jones, Aspinall found himself promoted to undisputed champion. His anticipated match against Gane turned sour in the first round when an unintentional eye poke led to the fight being stopped, allowing Aspinall to retain his title.

In the lead-up to UFC 321, questions arose about whether this could be Gane’s final chance at the heavyweight title. Despite a minor hiccup with Gane forgetting his cup before the fight, both fighters entered the Octagon ready to impress.

Gane took an aggressive stance early on, relying on quick strikes to challenge Aspinall. The fight took a turn when an accidental eye poke halted the action, frustrating Aspinall who voiced his displeasure post-fight. Gane also expressed regret over the fight’s outcome.

Following the match, Aspinall was taken to the hospital, and UFC President Dana White confirmed plans to reschedule the heavyweight clash. In other bouts, Mackenzie Dern became the new women’s strawweight champion, while Umar Nurmagomedov and Alexander Volkov secured victories in their respective fights.