Highlights
- UFC 321 main event ends abruptly after an unexpected incident.
- Aspinall speaks out from the hospital after the fight.
- A former UFC champion offers his perspective on the situation.
A Painful End to UFC 321
There’s been plenty of talk about the result of UFC 321 following the unfortunate situation that unfolded between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane. What was supposed to be a long-awaited return for the heavyweight champion ended abruptly after an accidental eye poke left fans at Etihad Arena showering the cage with boos and disappointment. The abrupt stoppage not only stunned the crowd but left many questioning the severity of Aspinall’s condition.
As the noise settled, Aspinall opened up about what really happened — and how it compared to the devastating knee injury that once halted his momentum.
Aspinall Opens Up from the Hospital
‘It’s a very dangerous sport,’ Aspinall admitted in a hospital video shared shortly after the fight. ‘Way scarier than what I did to my knee.’
The comment, shared by UFC on TNT Sports, referenced his 2022 knee injury against Curtis Blaydes — a fight that resulted in his first professional loss and a year-long recovery. Despite that setback, Aspinall climbed back to the top, only to be stopped again in heartbreaking fashion, this time by an injury far more frightening.
Bisping Defends Aspinall’s Decision
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, who famously fought and won a world title while legally blind in one eye, weighed in on the situation with empathy and perspective.
Tom Aspinall says this eye injury was 'way scarier' than his knee injury suffered against Curtis Blaydes 😢
Get well soon Tom.
Watch the full video from @AspinallMMA on his YouTube now 👉https://t.co/sgetxfXAXHpic.twitter.com/jw1glBF9EU
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) October 26, 2025
‘Tom is the champion of the world and he doesn’t want to go out there when his vision is impaired or massively affected and potentially lose a fight that was shaping up to be a difficult fight. Ciryl Gane was on point. You saw the damage on Tom’s face. This was not an easy fight by any stretch of the imagination. He didn’t want to continue with his vision damaged or not being able to see. I don’t blame him.’
"I should NOT have been fighting" 👁️
Michael Bisping is brutally honest on his own career after Tom Aspinall's eye poke at #UFC321pic.twitter.com/XByhPvfqu6
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) October 26, 2025
Bisping’s defense carries extra weight, given his own experience competing with a severe eye injury throughout the latter stages of his career. He captured and defended the UFC middleweight title despite being legally blind in his right eye — a feat that remains one of the sport’s most remarkable stories.
Looking Ahead
While fans were left disappointed by how UFC 321 ended, Aspinall’s admission highlights the hidden dangers behind every exchange in the Octagon. It’s clear this was more than just a minor setback — it was a sobering reminder of the sport’s unforgiving reality.
As Dana White hinted post-fight, the UFC will likely look to run it back once Aspinall fully recovers, giving the heavyweight champion a chance to close the chapter that ended too soon.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
