**UFC 321 Heavyweight Main Event Ends in No-Contest After Accidental Eye Poke**
Champion Tom Aspinall and top-ranked Ciryl Gane faced off in the much-anticipated heavyweight main event at UFC 321 inside Etihad Arena. However, the bout did not progress beyond the opening round, as an accidental double eye poke led to an official timeout and ultimately the match being ruled a no-contest.
Both Aspinall (15-3-0) and Gane (13-2-0) started the fight with high energy and intensity. The clash came to a halt at the 4:35 mark of the first round after the accidental double eye poke prompted the referee to call for a timeout. During the allotted five-minute break, Aspinall was unable to clear his vision in the right eye.
At 4:09 into the stoppage, officials officially declared the match a no-contest. This fight marked Aspinall’s first defense as the undisputed heavyweight champion.
“What am I supposed to do about it? I can’t see,” Aspinall said from the ring, his disappointment clear as boos echoed throughout the arena. “This is [expletive]. The fight was just getting going.”
Ciryl Gane, visibly disappointed, dropped to his knees as the official announcement was made. “I’m feeling sorry,” Gane said. “I’m very sorry about that.”
The fight had begun with a fast pace, as Aspinall wasted no time throwing heavy shots. Known for his elusive footwork, Gane showed no sign of intimidation and engaged toe-to-toe, taking control in the center of the cage. Gane’s sharp jab even managed to draw blood from Aspinall.
When Aspinall attempted a takedown midway through the round, Gane defended successfully. Throughout, Gane expertly circled away from the cage while landing jabs and low kicks. In the final minute of the first round, Gane continued to out-strike Aspinall until the accidental eye poke brought the action to a premature end.
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**Mackenzie Dern Captures Vacant Strawweight Belt After Tough Win Over Virna Jandiroba**
The intense co-main event saw fifth-ranked contender Mackenzie Dern (16-5-0) emerge victorious over top-ranked Virna Jandiroba (22-4-0), claiming the vacant strawweight championship via unanimous decision. Both fighters endured battered right eyes in a closely contested fight, but Dern’s left hand proved more effective and damaging throughout the bout.
As the ring announcer declared her the new champ and placed the belt around her waist, the 32-year-old Brazilian dropped to her knees in tears. “It feels amazing,” Dern shared emotionally. “I need to see Moa. This is for Moa.”
Dern was soon joined in the cage by her six-year-old daughter, Moa, who proudly draped the UFC belt over her mother’s shoulder.
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**Additional UFC 321 Fight Results**
– In a bantamweight showdown, No. 2 Umar Nurmagomedov (19-1-0) secured a unanimous decision victory over No. 8 Mario Bautista (16-3-0).
– Heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov (39-11-0), ranked second, edged out No. 5 Jailton Almeida (22-4-0) by split decision.
– In the light heavyweight division, 10th-ranked Azamat Murzakanov (16-0-0) delivered a first-round stoppage over No. 7 Aleksandar Rakic (14-6-0). This win extended Murzakanov’s streak to six consecutive victories — the second-longest active win streak in the division.
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The night at Etihad Arena delivered drama, heartbreak, and triumph, setting the stage for exciting rematches and future title defenses to come.
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