Tom Aspinall Criticizes Dana White’s Remarks on UFC 321 Eye Poke Incident

Tom Aspinall Responds to UFC 321 Eye Poke Comments

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) expressed frustration with UFC president Dana White following comments made about the controversial eye poke during his title clash with Ciryl Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) at UFC 321.

The Incident

In the second round of the bout, Gane accidentally poked Aspinall in the eye, briefly halting the action as medical staff checked the champion’s condition. Although Aspinall continued and ultimately retained his title, the incident became a focal point of post-fight discussion.

Dana White’s Comments

Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Dana White downplayed the severity of the foul, suggesting,

“These things happen in fights. It wasn’t intentional, and Tom recovered quickly.”

His remarks appeared to dismiss Aspinall’s discomfort, which seemed to irritate the British champion.

Aspinall’s Reaction

Aspinall later voiced his dissatisfaction in an interview, stating,

“I respect Dana, but that eye poke was serious. It definitely affected my vision for the rest of the round.”

He emphasized the importance of fighter safety and the need for the organization to acknowledge when fouls impact a competitor’s performance.

Safety Concerns

Eye pokes have long been a debated issue in mixed martial arts. Fighters and fans have called for stricter enforcement and potential redesign of gloves to minimize accidental fouls. Aspinall’s comments reignited that conversation within the UFC community.

“We’re professionals,” Aspinall added, “but that doesn’t mean we should ignore dangerous fouls when they happen.”

Author’s summary: Tom Aspinall criticized Dana White for minimizing the seriousness of an eye poke during UFC 321, reigniting debates about fighter safety and foul prevention in MMA.

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