The much-anticipated UFC heavyweight championship encounter between England`s Tom Aspinall and France`s Ciryl Gane concluded unexpectedly as a `no contest` in the very first round. The bout, held in Abu Dhabi, was halted prematurely after Aspinall suffered a severe eye injury, bringing a swift and disappointing end to what promised to be a thrilling title defense.
Just over a minute into the contest, an exchange between the fighters led to what appeared to be Gane`s fingers making contact with Aspinall`s right eye. The champion immediately began to bleed heavily, prompting concern from officials and the medical team. A five-minute timeout was called, during which Aspinall, clearly in distress, communicated to the cage-side doctor that he had lost vision.
Although the doctor confirmed `no concerns` regarding the structural integrity of Aspinall`s eyeball, his vision impairment persisted. With four of the five allotted timeout minutes expired and Aspinall still unable to continue, the referee was left with no option but to stop the fight and declare it a `no contest`.
As a result, Tom Aspinall retains his UFC heavyweight championship belt. An immediate rematch between the two formidable heavyweights is widely anticipated given the unsatisfying conclusion. However, the crowd`s initial reaction to the decision was a chorus of boos, reflecting their disappointment at the premature end of the championship clash.
Aspinall`s Reaction: “The fight was just getting going”
Tom Aspinall voiced his strong frustration regarding the unfortunate circumstances and the negative reception from the audience.
“Guys, I just got poked in the eyeball. I don`t know why I`m being booed – I can`t see! The fight was just getting going.”
Gane`s Perspective: “I feel sorry for Aspinall”
Challenger Ciryl Gane expressed his sympathy, understanding the disappointment felt by both the fans and his opponent.
“I feel sorry at first. I feel sorry about that. For the crowd, for everybody, for Tom Aspinall, for myself. We put a lot of effort into the fight. Disappointed, but this is the sport. We prepared this fight very well. I don`t know what`s going to happen for the future. We don`t know yet, but we`ll see.”
