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)

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — The Senegalese Football Federation has made extensive complaints about the way its national soccer team is being treated in Morocco ahead of Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final against the host nation.

The federation, known as FSF, issued a statement in the early hours of Saturday morning in which it criticized an alleged lack of security arrangements for the team’s arrival in Rabat, problems with the team’s accommodation, issues with the training facilities, and difficulties getting a fair ticket allocation for its supporters.

It called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the local organizing committee to “immediately take every corrective measure to guarantee respect for the principles of fair play, equal treatment, and security indispensable for the success of this celebration of African football.”

Senegal 's players traveled by train from Tangier to Rabat on Friday, but found what the federation said was a “clear lack of adequate security measures” upon their arrival. Social media videos showed the players and staff surrounded by crowds of people jostling to get selfies and photos as they attempted to make their way to the team bus.

“This deficiency exposed the players and technical staff to overcrowding and risks incompatible with the standards of a competition of this magnitude and the prestige of a continental final,” the federation said.

The federation said it had to file a formal written complaint to get adequate hotel accommodation for the team after its arrival in Rabat. It did not describe the condition of the accommodation the team was first offered.

The federation said it notified CAF of its “categorical refusal” to hold team training sessions at the Mohammed VI Complex, which is where the Morocco team has been based for the whole tournament. Morocco will also train there Saturday.

The federation said it “raises a question of sporting fairness” and that it still had not been informed of where the Senegal team can train.

In the media activities agenda for Saturday, shared with media on Friday, Senegal’s training session location was still to be confirmed.

The federation said the ticketing situation was “concerning.” It was only able to purchase 2,850 tickets for its supporters as per the maximum limits authorized by CAF.

The federation said the allocation is “insufficient given the demand” and that it “deplores the imposed restrictions, which penalize the Senegalese public.”

The capacity of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which is hosting the final, is 69,500 fans. Morocco has been buoyed by vociferous support in all its games so far.

Morocco is bidding to end a 50-year wait for its second Africa Cup title. Senegal, which won the 2021 trophy, is also going for its second title.

The federation said it was making its complaints public “in the interest of transparency and to defend the interests of the Senegalese national team.”

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Senegal squad pose before the Africa Cup of Nations semifinal soccer match between Senegal and Egypt, in Tangier, Morocco, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohamed Bounaji)