Tom Aspinall checks into hospital with eye injury | Boxing News

Tom Aspinall was taken to hospital immediately after his bout with Ciryl Gane was declared a no contest due to an unintended eye-poke. The Brit, who was promoted to undisputed champion earlier this yr following Jon Jones’ stunning retirement from the game, last stepped into the cage at UFC 321. His earlier look was in July 2024 when he efficiently defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes in Manchester.

Keen to make up for misplaced time, the Wigan fighter was keen to have at least one battle this yr and shortly agreed to a match with Gane. The Frenchman, however, is no stranger to undisputed title fights. UFC 321 marked Gane’s third attempt at the coveted gold prize, having failed in his two earlier makes an attempt.

What was set to be a thrilling main event in Abu Dhabi turned disastrous deep into the first spherical when Aspinall was by accident poked in both eyes by the challenger. Given 5 minutes to recuperate, Aspinall confessed he couldn’t see out of his proper eye.

The showdown was finally called off and Aspinall was swiftly taken backstage and transported to hospital.

Aspinall is famend for his explosive openings, but it was really the challenger who emerged swinging in the opening spherical. The Frenchman linked with quite a few jabs and inside kicks to Aspinall’s lead leg during the early exchanges in a bid to drive the champion backwards.

After a transient skirmish, blood started streaming from Aspinall’s nostril.

Gane’s self-assurance was growing before he inadvertently jabbed Aspinall in both eyes. Referee Jason Herzog swiftly halted the motion and granted the champion 5 minutes to recuperate.

Supporters began to fear after Aspinall was overheard telling the cageside doctor: “His f***ing finger was right in my eyeball mate,” while also moaning that he could not see. Eventually, the referee called off the conflict and the consequence was ruled a ‘no contest.

Aspinall expressed his views on the bout before being rushed to hospital. “Guys I just got f***ing poked knuckle deep in the eyeball. Why are you booing? What am I supposed to do about it? I didn’t do the f***ing poke. I can’t see. This is bulls***. The fight was just getting going. Complete bulls***. I’m p***** off,” a pissed off champion declared post-fight.

“I’m very sorry about that, for the crowd, for the fans, for everybody. Sorry for Tom Aspinall, sorry for myself,” said Gane. 

In a separate post-fight interview, the French heavyweight fighter said: “I’m a bit disappointed with the outcome of the fight… also because of the way the fight was going, because of the future.”

Following the end of UFC 321, Dana White, the pinnacle honcho of UFC, confirmed to journalists at the post-fight press convention that the heavyweight conflict will likely be rescheduled. “A total pain in the a**, but yes [I’d like to do the rematch],” he acknowledged.