UFC eye poke rule explained after Tom Aspinall’s UFC 321 fight was ruined

Tom Aspinallundisputed first defense ufc Heavyweight Title ended in a strange and humiliating manner On Saturday, when he suffered an eye injury in the first round.

Briton was competing Cyril Gane In UFC 321 main event in Abu DhabiAfter a 15-month absence from the Octagon.

, FOLLOW LIVE: UFC 321 results Aspinall suffers eye poke from Gane

And all the hype and tension led to an unexpected end, when Gane accidentally pierced both of Aspinall’s eyes at the same time.

As is customary in these situations, the action was stopped and a five-minute timer started, with Aspinall examined by the referee and a doctor.

If the Wigan heavyweight was able to continue fighting before those five minutes expired, the bout would be restarted. Gane would have received a warning or, if the strike was considered deliberate, he would have been given a point.

However, if a fighter is deemed unable to continue competing (or deems him/herself incapable) before the five minutes expire – or at the end of that period – the bout is voided. If it is determined that the strike was unintentional, it is declared a no contest, as happened at UFC 321, or a fighter is disqualified if the strike is deemed to have been intentional.

However, eye stealing is almost never considered intentional.

“What are you going to do?” UFC President Dana White said in the post-fight press conference, before referencing a recent change – and change-back – in the style of UFC gloves: “No matter what you do with the gloves, it’s going to happen.”

In his interview after the cage fight, Aspinall said, Responded to fans’ criticism at the Etihad Arena, saying: “I got hit very deep in the eye. What the hell, why are you screaming? What should I do about it? I didn’t get hit, I can’t see!”

“That’s bulls***. The fight was just going on. Look at this, a double eye poke,” he continued, pointing to the slow motion replay on the big screen.

Gane also came under criticism when he conducted his post-fight interview in the Octagon. “I’m very sorry about this,” he said, to the crowd, for Tom Aspinallfor myself. This is the game.”