UFC 321 may be over, but the fire it sparked refuses to die down. What fans expected to be an explosive heavyweight title clash between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane turned chaotic in just 15 seconds, when challenger Gane delivered an “unintentional” double eye poke to the reigning champion. The incident forced a ‘no contest’ ruling after the Briton was unable to continue, leaving fans frustrated and the heavyweight division once again in limbo.

Earlier this summer, when the UFC promoted Tom Aspinall from interim to undisputed champion, fans believed the division’s glory days had returned. But with the UFC 321 title fight ending in anticlimactic fashion, attention has now shifted to a potential rematch, though the date remains unconfirmed. Aspinall’s decision to stop fighting, even while securing a $3.5 million payout, has split opinion across the MMA world. Some have labeled his choice “chicken,” and now, another prominent voice has joined the debate.

Renato Moicano blasts Tom Aspinall for “business decision” after no-contest fiasco at UFC 321

Tom Aspinall may have chosen the cautious route, but others believe a true UFC champion should be ready to fight no matter the circumstances. Renato Moicano appears to share that view. In a conversation with Home of Fight, the Brazilian lightweight suggested that Aspinall could have continued despite the eye injury.

“He could fight, you know,” Renato Moicano said. “But I think he made a business decision because he thought, okay, if he was sitting again, he wouldn’t get the title shot. Yeah, but he’s the champion. He’s going to make money as a champion. So, from what I think, he could fight, but he chose not to do it. So is that chickening out? I don’t know. Maybe, yeah.”

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During the UFC 321 main event, Tom Aspinall appeared to suffer injuries to both eyes. After the fight, during his hospital visit, he repeatedly covered his right eye and later described the pain as “way scarier.” Aspinall even documented his trip from backstage to the hospital in Abu Dhabi through a vlog.

However, despite his visible discomfort, doctors reportedly told him, “We don’t find anything dangerous,” a statement that added weight to critics like Renato Moicano, who believe Aspinall could have continued. Aspinall’s future now hangs in the balance as he undergoes further medical evaluations in the UK, with the results yet to be released. In the meantime, frustration over the incident has reignited debate across the MMA community, as fans and fighters call for an urgent ban on eye pokes.

Ex-UFC fighter pushes for immediate rule reform after latest eye poke controversy

Eye pokes have become a persistent problem in MMA, and many now believe the sport must eliminate them entirely. Even though the rules already prohibit intentional eye pokes, the real challenge is identifying whether one is deliberate or accidental. So far, the commission has failed to provide a clear solution, sparking widespread calls for a major overhaul of the rules.

Several UFC veterans have spoken out about the need for reform, emphasizing that eye injuries are no minor issue. The risk is very real — just ask Michael Bisping, who permanently lost vision in one eye following an in-cage injury.  As criticism toward Aspinall continues, UFC legend Matt Brown entered the discussion on The Fighter vs. The Writer show.

Matt Brown said, “I’ve really been disgusted with that narrative that you’re talking about, where everybody’s blaming Tom Aspinall. “Where did this come from? How did he do anything wrong? People saying, ‘Oh should have just sucked it up with one eye.’ Get the f— out of here. What are you talking about? We’re not in a death match. This isn’t f—–g like Street Fighter, it’s not a video game. This is a professional competition.”

Following Brown’s comments, Jim Miller, Demetrious Johnson, and Henry Cejudo also called for stricter penalties for eye pokes. How do you think the promotion should deal with this recurring issue? Share your thoughts in the comments.