Tom Aspinall's UFC 321 Eye Poke: What Happened and What's Next?

Tom Aspinall's recent UFC 321 match ended in a no-contest after he was poked in the eye. This left many wondering if he could have continued fighting. The incident happened during the heavyweight title fight against Ciryl Gane. Aspinall claimed he couldn't see after the poke, leading the referee to stop the fight. Some UFC veterans, like Chael Sonnen and Anthony Smith, had strong opinions on this. They pointed out that fighting with one eye is common in the sport. Sonnen mentioned that fighters often have to deal with eye pokes and other injuries during matches. He suggested that Aspinall might have been looking for a way out of a tough fight. Smith, who has experienced similar situations, shared his thoughts. He said that fighters need to be clear about wanting to continue if they can still see. He also noted that the narrative might shift to suggest Aspinall was struggling and looking for an exit. The first round was intense, with Gane landing solid punches and even busting Aspinall's nose. This raised questions about how Aspinall would handle a tougher fight than expected. Sonnen wondered if Aspinall was used to quick finishes and struggled when the fight went longer. There was also some debate about the severity of the eye poke. Sonnen felt that Aspinall might have been able to continue, even with a compromised eye. He noted that fighters often push through injuries in the heat of a match. Overall, the incident has sparked a lot of discussion. Aspinall might face criticism, but it's important to remember that fighting with an eye injury is no easy task. The sport is full of tough decisions, and this was just one of them.