Overview
- The Gane–Aspinall title fight in Abu Dhabi ended in a no‑contest after an eye poke left Tom Aspinall with vision damage that required multiple surgeries and has kept him out of competition.
- Ciryl Gane told media at the UFC White House event that he is not a cheater, called Aspinall’s accusation an opinion, and said the contact was accidental when an open‑palm push slid into the eye.
- Gane is now focused on an interim heavyweight title fight against Alex Pereira in the co‑main event, his first bout since the no‑contest.
- Fans have compiled footage of several alleged fouls by Gane, and he points to split‑second movement, small gloves, and the allowed open‑palm push under the Unified Rules as reasons such incidents can be inadvertent; referees have also grown quicker to warn or penalize for eye pokes.
- The bout’s outcome could change Gane’s reputation and the division’s championship path because Aspinall remains sidelined and a Gane win would create pressure for rematches and title decisions.