Eye Pokes & The UFC 321 Fallout: Two Fighters, One Controversy
- Austin Jones
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Eye Pokes & The UFC 321 Fallout: Two Fighters, One Controversy
In Abu Dhabi for UFC 321, the long-anticipated heavyweight title fight between Tom Aspinall (15-3) and Ciryl Gane (13-2) ended in farce rather than finish. At 4:35 of the opening round, Gane delivered an accidental eye pokes that left Aspinall unable to continue and the bout ruled a No Contest.
What unfolded has stirred debate: Was Gane negligent? Was Aspinall too quick to stop? And what does this say about eye-poke protocols in MMA?
🔍 Critique of Ciryl Gane – “The Poking Problem”
From the vantage of many inside MMA, Gane’s action raises serious concerns. One of the sport’s most vocal critics, Jim Miller, who has fought 43 times in the UFC (The most in UFC history) and reportedly has never committed an eye poke, said bluntly: “It’s not a f---ing accident!”
His point: With that many fights and zero eye pokes, there is no excuse for sloppy finger placement. The video slow-motion shows Gane’s fingers entering deep into Aspinall’s eyes, both left and right.
The takeaway: While Gane insists the foul was accidental, many feel he should have better controlled his fingers, especially in a title fight where stakes and scrutiny rise.
✋ Critique of Tom Aspinall – “The Champion’s Exit? Or Smart Safety?”
On the other side, Aspinall also faces legitimate questions. When the poke landed and he told referee Jason Herzog, “I can’t see”, the fight was immediately halted.
Veteran analysts like Chael Sonnen argued that “fighting with one eye” is part of MMA life, citing fighters like Michael Bisping who kept going despite severe eye injuries.
The question: Was Aspinall’s stop a necessary medical safeguard or a premature surrender? Critics say for a champion of his caliber, the moment called for grit, not exit.
So the fault doesn’t lie purely in the stop, but it raises a broader concern: when does preservation become avoidance?
🎯 FIGHT.TV’s View — We See Both Sides
On Gane’s side: Title-fight finger discipline is non-negotiable. A poke this deep in such a match undermines “unified champion” credibility and invites criticism that these fouls are more than mere accidents.
On Aspinall’s side: Athlete safety is paramount. If a fighter cannot see, continuing would invite catastrophe. That said, champion mindset often includes fighting through injury and especially in big moments. The stop will leave a question mark hanging over his resilience until the rematch.
The incident also amplifies a looming issue in MMA: eye pokes continue to mar fights. The spectacle suffers, titles are delayed, divisions stagnate. Miller’s admonition as “It’s the fighter(s)” echoes loud.
🧭 What Can Be Done?
Strict finger-check protocols pre-fight: ensure digits are taped or positioned safely.
Stricter consequences for repeated or egregious pokes: points, DQs, suspensions.
Faster video review post-fight to decide rematch terms: no more limbo for divisions.
Encouraging fighters to train finger-control awareness as much as striking or grappling skills.
🗣️ Over to You, Fight Fans
Do you believe the foul was pure accident, or part of a tactical risk-cover? Should Aspinall have “fought blind” for the sake of legacy? Or was preserving his vision the only correct call?
The debate matters, because as one Poked Champion said: “The sport cannot afford clichés about accidental fouls any more.”Let’s talk.
