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In combat sports, fighters often turn painful setbacks into moments of humor to cope with disappointment and stay connected with fans. Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall recently did just that, finding a playful way to address his misfortune against Ciryl Gane. What started as a serious in-fight injury soon turned into a lighthearted social media moment when Aspinall referenced it on Halloween. The incident occurred at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, where Aspinall defended his heavyweight title against Gane. Early in the first round, Gane accidentally struck Aspinall’s eyes with his fingers during an exchange, prompting the referee to call the bout a no-contest at the 4:35 mark after the Brit indicated he could no longer see. The ending halted what had promised to be a headline-defining fight for both men. Rather than adopt a purely somber tone, Aspinall used the Halloween period to address the event more lightly. He posted a photo of himself wearing an eye patch and signaled with visual humor that he was still part of the story despite the no-contest result. He also posted a picture of Gane as the popular horror character Freddy Krueger, who has long fingers, which acted as a subtle nod to the eye poke stoppage. Following the stoppage, Aspinall underwent medical evaluation and was taken to the hospital for further tests. His father, Andy Aspinall, then revealed that his son still “can’t see anything” out of his right eye and that the left eye was only functioning at about 50 per cent. However, Aspinall was also met with scrutiny from the MMA community, as many termed him a “quitter” for discontinuing after the foul. The British champion’s Freddy Krueger reference also threw shade at Gane’s past fights, in which the Frenchman has several instances of questionable contact, including eye and back-of-head strikes. While the eye poke was ruled accidental, it fueled ongoing discussions about fighter safety and conduct in UFC fights. The post also underscored Gane’s growing reputation for frequent fouls inside the Octagon. Tom Aspinall’s lighthearted Halloween post served as a reminder that even in a brutal sport, humor can be a powerful tool for resilience. By turning an unfortunate moment into a playful statement, he shifted attention from controversy to character. It reflected his ability to balance toughness with personality, reinforcing why he remains one of the most relatable and respected figures in modern MMA. Herb Dean talks about fighters committing intentional eye pokes after Tom Aspinall’s UFC 321 injury Eye pokes have become a persistent issue in mixed martial arts, with fighters like Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane often cited as repeat offenders. These incidents have changed the course of major fights and raised concerns about safety and officiating. Despite updates to rules and gloves, both accidental and questionable fouls continue to trouble high-profile bouts, prompting calls for stricter oversight.
