Tom Aspinall can’t go on after Cyril Gaine put out both eyes in the UFC main event

Tom Aspinall’s return to the Octagon Abu Dhabi It didn’t go as planned on Saturday night, as his match with Cyril Gayne ended early after suffering an accidental poke in the eye.

In fact, Gaine hit both of Aspinall’s eyes late in the first round, ultimately obliterating him in the night’s main event.

But Aspinall said he could not continue the fight, sparking excitement from the crowd and widespread debate from fans and experts, including former UFC Fighter and current ESPN analyst Chael Sonnen.

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Britain’s Tom Aspinall reacts after being hit in the eye during their UFC heavyweight title fight with Cyril Gaines at UFC 321 in the early hours of October 26, 2025 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. (Getty Images via Giuseppe Cacace/AFP)

“It’s illegal to poke in the eye, but it’s very common to fight with one eye,” Sonnen said on ESPN’s 321 post-match show. “The opponent is trying to hit you in the eye, he’s trying to break you and get your nose bleeding. So that’s a question mark for guys like Anthony (Smith) and myself. We’re trying to be polite. We’re trying to show grace, but in all fairness, you are. Heavyweight Champion You sometimes have to fight the world with one eye.”

Video replays showed that Gaine had clearly landed both of his fingers in Aspinall’s eye, even as the heavyweight champion held an ice pack to his right eye after the match. Daniel Cormier was fired up during his post-match interview.

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“Guys, I just got poked in the eye socket. What the f—, why are you babbling? What am I supposed to do about it, I didn’t get poked. I can’t see! It’s bull—-. There was a fight going on. Complete bull—-.”

Aspinall added that he “could hardly open my eyes.”

25 Oct in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Cyril Gain punches Tom Aspinall in a UFC Heavyweight Championship bout during the UFC 321 event at the Etihad Arena in 2025. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

While there were some who wanted Aspinall to keep fighting, fellow MMA fighter Sean O’Malley defended him because of how dangerous Gain is.

“You’re the UFC heavyweight champion of the world, you’ve got a bad eye, and you’re fighting a very dangerous kickboxer. A very dangerous kickboxer. It’s hard to stand in front of a man with such high skill and fight him with two eyes. Now, you’re illegally punched in the eye – he didn’t break his right arm or eye. Can’t see through it.”

During the incident, Gane appeared to be giving Aspinall all he could handle, as Aspinall’s nose was bloody before the double-poke. And since this is a title fight, the crowd and everyone involved in the UFC would love to see a proper finish.

Tom Aspinall reacts after being hit in the eye during his fight with Cyril Gaine at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi in the early hours of October 26, 2025. (Getty Images via Giuseppe Cacace/AFP)

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The 32-year-old from Aspinall, England, hasn’t been in the Octagon since July 2024 when he dropped Curtis Blaydes one minute into the first round. Aspinall found redemption in his previous fight with Blaydes in July 2022, losing just 15 seconds. Knee injury On a kick.

Aspinall is 15-3 with 11 knockouts in his UFC career and has never gone past the third round in any of his bouts.