ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Champion Tom Aspinall and top-ranked Ciryl Gane couldn't make it via the opening spherical of their heavyweight important occasion at UFC 321 inside Etihad Enviornment earlier than the match was dominated a no-contest.
Aspinall (15-3-0) and Gane (13-2-0) each got here out with a whole lot of vitality till an unintentional double eye poke prompted an official timeout on the 4:35 mark of the primary spherical.
Aspinall (15-3-0) couldn't see out of his proper eye in the course of the allotted five-minute break, and at 4:09 into the stoppage, the match was dominated a no-contest.
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It was Aspinall's first protection as undisputed heavyweight champion.
“What am I imagined to do about it? I can't see,” stated a disillusioned Aspinall, talking within the ring in response to the refrain of boos all through the sector. “That is (expletive). The battle was simply getting going.”
Gane dropped to his knees, additionally disillusioned, because the ring announcer made the official announcement.
“I'm feeling sorry,” Gane stated. “I'm very sorry about that.”
After the bout an UFC head Dana White was aggravated, according to MMA fighting, however stated there shall be a rematch, breaking his motto of not guaranteeing rematches proper after bouts.
“I really feel the way in which all people feels. Nice exhibiting, shitty ending,” White stated on the UFC 321 post-fight press convention. “I feel that after the [Jon] Jones battle, lots of people wrote Ciryl Gane off. He regarded rattling good tonight. It regarded like we had been in for a number of rounds, and it was going to be a great battle.
“Complete ache within the ass however sure [we'll book the rematch],” White added. “They're each in form, aside from no matter's incorrect along with his eye. Each guys aren't injured. As quickly as doable.
“I can't make individuals battle. If I need to put collectively a battle, I can't make individuals battle. You undoubtedly can't make any person proceed in the event that they really feel they've been injured. Solely Tom is aware of what occurred. May he see? Couldn't he see? May he proceed? Solely he is aware of that.”
Aspinall was off to a quick begin, because the champion wasted no time in throwing heavy photographs at Gane.
Recognized for his elusive footwork, although, Gane confirmed no intimidation and stood toe-to-toe whereas taking command within the middle of the cage.
Gane used a pointy jab to bloody the champ. And when Aspinall took his shot for a takedown, Gane efficiently defended it halfway via the spherical. When Aspinall tried to chop off the cage, Gane did a great job of circling out of it whereas touchdown jabs and low kicks.
Inside the ultimate minute of the spherical, Gane continued to outstrike Aspinall till his poke to the attention.
In an intense co-main occasion wherein each ladies left the cage with battered proper eyes, fifth-ranked contender Mackenzie Dern (16-5-0) gained the vacant strawweight belt over top-ranked Virna Jandiroba (22-4-0) with a unanimous determination.
Although each fighters had spectacular moments inside some tightly contested rounds, Dern's left hand was rather more efficient and damaging.
Upon listening to the ring announcer announce her identify as the brand new champ and having the belt wrapped round her waist, the 32-year-old Brazilian fell to her knees in tears.
“It feels superb,” Dern stated. “I have to see Moa. That is for Moa.”
Dern was then joined within the cage by her 6-year-old daughter, Moa, who draped the UFC belt over her shoulder.
From the undercard:
No. 2 Umar Nurmagomedov (19-1-0) earned a unanimous determination over No. 8 Mario Bautista (16-3-0) in a battle of top-ranked bantamweights.
Second-ranked heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov (39-11-0) gained by cut up determination over No. 5 Jailton Almeida (22-4-0)
Within the mild heavyweight division, Tenth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov (16-0-0) made fast work of No. 7 Aleksandar Rakic (14-6-0). Murzakanov's first-round stoppage prolonged the second-longest energetic UFC win streak within the division to 6 consecutive wins.
