Tom Aspinall eyes a DQ, Dana White eyes Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall – REAL COMBAT MEDIA MMA

Tom Aspinall has an eye for DQ, Dana White has an eye for Jon Jones for Tom Aspinall

By Robert Brizel, Chief Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing

Las Vegas, NV (October 28, 2025)– According to interim UFC World Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall, who is looking to turn his No-Contest fight into a win by disqualification: “How does he (Ciryl Gane) not get disqualified after that? People started booing me like it was my fault. I got poked in the eye, bro. I just trained for 14 months. Trust me, I didn’t want someone’s knuckle deep in my eye. That’s the last thing I wanted.”

Less than 48 hours after going 15-3, Tim Aspinall’s UFC World heavyweight MMA title defense ended in a no contest at 4:35 of the first round of his match with Ciryl Gane, 13-2, Team MMA Factory, Paris, France, after an accidental double eye poke, on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at UFC 321, Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, preliminary results have been revealed Apsinall suffered blurred vision in the right eye, but no eye trauma.

Former UFC World Heavyweight champion Jon Jones expressed his desire to fight Alex Pereira for the UFC light heavyweight title instead of Tom Aspinall for the potential 2026 UFC televised mega-event at the White House. UFC head Dana White has consistently stated that Jones should fight Aspinall if he continues his career in the UFC. Despite Jones’ interest in Pereira, Dana White is adamant that Jones’ mandatory next fight will be against interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

Aspinall, Team Kaobon, Salford, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom could be issued a precautionary 180-day professional fighting suspension by UFC medical officials after re-examination and the final ophthalmology report is issued, unless the finding is later reversed by a subsequent medical clearance. Jones could be his future.

According to Newsweek, reports from the attending ringside physician showed no signs of external trauma to the right eye, but did note blurred vision and burning pain when the right eye was exposed to light. Aspinall was transported to a hospital in Dubai without a contest after the MMA title fight, where doctors performed multiple tests on both eyes, and his right eye was taped shut. The UFC will conduct further vision tests on both of Aspinall’s eyes in Britain before making a final ruling on a suspension. The Jon Jones fight appears to be the UFC’s calling card for 2026, and Dana White is not backing away from his plans.

Dana White also made some controversial statements about the eye poke at the UFC 321 Post Fight press conference…

“I feel like everyone else feels,” he said. “Great show, sexy ending, you know? I think a lot of people wrote off Ciryl Gane after the Jones fight, he looked damn good tonight. It was good, it looked like we were going to go a few rounds and it was going to be a good fight.”

Asked about a possible rematch, he said: “Total pain in the a**, but yeah. It’s a shame it ended like that and yeah, I think there’ll probably be a lot more interest in the rematch after that.” [Gane] had bloodied Tom and Tom did not want to continue fighting.

“So the rematch is very interesting,” White added. “Here and now, to be honest – I never do this when it comes to talking about what’s going to happen next fight – the rematch is what makes sense.”

Robert Brizel – Chief Boxing Correspondent

Robert has been the head boxing correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region, which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, historical boxing features and editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].