Ciryl Gane’s night at UFC 321 ended in frustration rather than the grand satisfaction he hoped for. The former interim heavyweight champion’s third shot at an undisputed UFC title was ruled a no-contest Saturday after an accidental double eye-poke to Tom Aspinall brought an abrupt end to their much-anticipated clash.
For Gane, it was a tough pill to swallow — especially after starting as strongly as he did and likely winning most of the first round.
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“I think we started very well,” Gane said in UFC 321’s post-fight press conference, “because everybody knows I start to jab, and he starts very hard to surprise his opponent. Defending the takedown, I touched him. We saw some blood on his nose and it was a really great first round.
“That’s why I was a little bit disappointed, a little bit sad.”
The bout had barely begun to take shape before the unfortunate fight-ending sequence unfolded. After repeatedly telling doctors that he was not able to see due to the grisly foul, Aspinall was deemed unable to continue, prompting boos from the crowd and visible frustration from both men inside the cage.
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Emotions overwhelmed each in varying degrees, as Gane dropped to his knees at the fight’s conclusion.
Ciryl Gane hasn’t been able to catch a break in undisputed UFC title fights.
(GIUSEPPE CACACE via Getty Images)
“I really, really wanted to continue the fight,” Gane said. “First of all, I was very angry because I don’t want him to stop the fight. After, I was disappointed, sad; after that, apologetic for the people.”
UFC CEO Dana White stated post-fight that Aspinall was transported to the hospital as a result of the eye-pokes.
As for the incident itself, Gane maintained there was no ill intent behind the fouls that halted the action.
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” he said, “and I know what it is to have an eye poke, because when I fought Derrick Lewis [in 2021], I got an eye-poke and I was seeing two Derrick Lewises for a full round. So I know how it is. I’m not going to say, ‘Yeah, he’s a liar.’”
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Despite the unsatisfying outcome, the budding rivalry between Gane and Aspinall is far from over. White confirmed post-fight that the pair of elite heavyweights will run their fight back as soon as possible.
Gane said he plans to regroup and enjoy time with his family before getting the green light to prepare all over again for another Aspinall encounter.
