UFC 321 main event ruled a no-contest after Ciryl Gane accidental eye poke to champion Tom Aspinall

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Champion Tom Aspinall and top-ranked Ciryl Gane couldn’t make it through the opening round of their heavyweight main event at UFC 321 inside Etihad Arena before the match was ruled a no-contest.

Aspinall (15-3-0) and Gane (13-2-0) both came out with a lot of energy until an accidental double eye poke prompted an official timeout at the 4:35 mark of the first round.

Aspinall (15-3-0) could not see out of his right eye during the allotted five-minute break, and at 4:09 into the stoppage, the match was ruled a no-contest.

It was Aspinall’s first defense as undisputed heavyweight champion.

“What am I supposed to do about it? I can’t see,” said a disappointed Aspinall, speaking in the ring in response to the chorus of boos throughout the arena. “This is (expletive). The fight was just getting going.”

Gane dropped to his knees, also disappointed, as the ring announcer made the official announcement.

“I’m feeling sorry,” Gane said. “I’m very sorry about that."

Aspinall was off to a fast start, as the champion wasted no time in throwing heavy shots at Gane.

Known for his elusive footwork, though, Gane showed no intimidation and stood toe-to-toe while taking command in the center of the cage.

Gane used a sharp jab to bloody the champ. And when Aspinall took his shot for a takedown, Gane successfully defended it midway through the round. When Aspinall tried to cut off the cage, Gane did a good job of circling out of it while landing jabs and low kicks.

Inside the final minute of the round, Gane continued to outstrike Aspinall until his poke to the eye.

In an intense co-main event in which both women left the cage with battered right eyes, fifth-ranked contender Mackenzie Dern (16-5-0) won the vacant strawweight belt over top-ranked Virna Jandiroba (22-4-0) with a unanimous decision.

Though both fighters had impressive moments within some tightly contested rounds, Dern’s left hand was much more effective and damaging.

Upon hearing the ring announcer announce her name as the new champ and having the belt wrapped around her waist, the 32-year-old Brazilian fell to her knees in tears.

“It feels amazing,” Dern said. “I need to see Moa. This is for Moa.”

Dern was then joined in 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 decision over No. 8 Mario Bautista (16-3-0) in a battle of top-ranked bantamweights.

Second-ranked heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov (39-11-0) won by split decision over No. 5 Jailton Almeida (22-4-0)

In the light heavyweight division, 10th-ranked Azamat Murzakanov (16-0-0) made quick work of No. 7 Aleksandar Rakic (14-6-0). Murzakanov’s first-round stoppage extended the second-longest active UFC win streak in the division to six consecutive wins.

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Russia's Umar Nurmagomedov, left, kicks Mario Bautista, of United States, during a bantamweight bout at the mixed martial arts UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Ciryl Gane of France reacts after his fight with England's Tom Aspinall was called off during the heavyweight title bout at the UFC mixed martial arts Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

England's Tom Aspinall compresses his right eye leaves after it was poked by Ciryl Gane of France during the heavyweight title bout at the UFC mixed martial arts Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Ciryl Gane of France reacts after his fight with England's Tom Aspinall was called off during the heavyweight title bout at the UFC mixed martial arts Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

England's Tom Aspinall leaves after the fight was called off when his eyes were poked by Ciryl Gane of France during the heavyweight title bout at the UFC mixed martial arts Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich scored with the last kick of the game to salvage a 3-3 draw with last-place Heidenheim in the Bundesliga before it welcomes Paris Saint-Germain for the second leg of their Champions League semifinal.

Michael Olise struck the post for Bayern and the ball bounced off Heidenheim goalkeeper Diant Ramaj’s back into the net for the equalizer in the 10th minute of stoppage time on Saturday.

It was the third straight game that Bayern trailed at halftime, including its 5-4 loss to PSG in the first leg of their semifinal on Tuesday, and last weekend’s 4-3 win in Mainz, where the already crowned Bundesliga champion faced a three-goal deficit.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany made seven changes to the team that started against PSG with Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, Luis Díaz and Harry Kane all on the substitutes’ bench.

Heidenheim’s Budu Zivzivadze and Eren Dinkci scored before Leon Goretzka pulled one back with a free kick before the break, and Kompany sent on Kane, Díaz, Olise and Kimmich for the second half.

Goretzka leveled with his second goal in the 57th, Zivzivadze scored again to restore Heidenheim’s lead in the 76th, only for Olise to force the equalizer.

The draw leaves Heidenheim on the verge of relegation.

Union Berlin fought back to draw 2-2 with Cologne for its first point under new coach Marie-Louise Eta, the first female head coach in the league.

Tom Rothe pulled one back after a corner in the 73rd and substitute Livan Burcu let fly for what seemed for the home fans like a winner in the 89th, after Marius Bülter and Said El Mala had scored for Cologne.

The draw kept Union a point above Cologne and will probably be enough for survival.

Hoffenheim drew with Stuttgart 3-3 in their duel for Champions League qualification, and Hamburger SV won 2-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt to move a point above Union.

Augsburg won 3-1 at Werder Bremen.

Bayer Leverkusen was hosting Leipzig later for another duel with Champions League qualification at stake.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Union Berlin's Tom Rothe, third from left, scores his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Köln. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)

Union Berlin's Tom Rothe, left, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Köln. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)

Bayern's Leon Goretzka celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Heidenheim in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (Harry Langer/dpa via AP)

Bayern's Joshua Kimmich, left, and Harry Kane react during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Heidenheim in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (Harry Langer/dpa via AP)

Bayern's Harry Kane retrieves the ball from the goal after the 3:3 during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Heidenheim in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (Harry Langer/dpa via AP)