Tom Aspinall waited more than a year to get back to work, but his Octagon return lasted less than a round.
The reigning heavyweight champion was rendered unable to continue in the UFC 321 headliner when opponent Ciryl Gane poked him in the eyes at the 4:35 mark of Round 1. As a result, their title bout was ruled a no contest — an unsatisfying ending for all parties involved.
Aspinall, who was unable to see following the accidental foul, voiced his frustration in the Octagon in the immediate aftermath of the incident.