Tom Aspinall gets checked after being poked in the eye. Photo: GIUSEPPE CACACE
Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has retained his title after his bout against Ciryl Gane was declared a no contest due to an eye poke at UFC 321 on Sunday.
Gane caught Aspinall in both eyes with an extended hand in the very first round, with the Brit unable to continue after complaining he couldn't see.
Aspinall was given five minutes to recover but said he was unable to open his right eye, forcing the referee to declare a no contest in an anticlimactic finish to the main event.
In what was his first defence since becoming undisputed champion, Aspinall was his typically active self in the opening few minutes of the fight.
But it was Gane that landed the bigger shot, bloodying the nose of Aspinall with a stiff right jab from southpaw.
Just seconds later and the fight was over, much to the dismay of the fans, as they hurried out of the shocked Etihad Arena.
Aspinall expressed his frustration after the fight, while Gane apologised to his opponent and the fans.
Without an obvious contender for the title, the UFC will most likely book an immediate rematch.
In the card's co-main event, Mackenzie Dern was crowned the new women's strawweight champion after defeating Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision.
Dern was the more active of the pair on the feet and landed a couple late takedowns, which proved decisive in the judges' minds.
In the main card's other fights, Umar Nurmagomedov defeated Mario Bautista by unanimous decision.
The former bantamweight title challenger utilised his superior grappling with his opponent unable to offer much resistance.
Russian Alexander Volkov also beat Jailton Almeida by split decision, with the judges again rewarding activity over position.
While Azamat Murzakanov knocked out Aleksandar Rakic in the first round with a huge right hand which sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.
Catch up with all the action as it happened below:
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