UFC 321 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 25, 2025, delivered plenty of drama and controversy, with the headline bout between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane ending in a shocking No Contest. Aspinall, the heavyweight champion, was forced to quit after an accidental eye poke left him unable to continue, sending shockwaves through the MMA world.
Main Card Results
Heavyweight: Tom Aspinall (c) vs Ciryl Gane – No Contest (accidental eye poke), Round 1, 4:35. The fight was stopped after Gane accidentally struck both of Aspinall’s eyes, leaving the champion unable to continue. Fans were left stunned as a potential classic bout ended in controversy.
Women’s Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern def. Virna Jandiroba – Decision (unanimous, 48–47, 48–47, 49–46), 5 Rounds. Dern claimed the vacant UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship with a dominant and well-rounded performance.
Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov def. Mario Bautista – Decision (unanimous, 30–27 across the board), 3 Rounds. Nurmagomedov controlled the fight with precise striking and effective grappling, leaving no doubt about the outcome.
Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov def. Jailton Almeida – Decision (split, 28–29, 29–28, 29–28), 3 Rounds. Volkov secured a narrow victory in a tightly contested heavyweight clash.
Light Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov def. Aleksandar Rakić – TKO (punches), Round 1, 3:11. Murzakanov showcased his power, finishing the fight quickly with relentless striking.
Preliminary Card Results
Lightweight: Quillan Salkilld def. Nasrat Haqparast – KO (head kick), Round 1, 2:30. Salkilld made a statement with a spectacular knockout early in the fight.
Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov def. Park Jun-yong – Decision (unanimous, 30–27 each), 3 Rounds. Aliskerov controlled the pace and secured a clean win on all judges’ scorecards.
Lightweight: Ľudovít Klein def. Mateusz Rębecki – Decision (majority, 29–28, 28–27, 28–28), 3 Rounds. Klein earned a closely contested victory in an exciting matchup that earned Fight of the Night honours.
Heavyweight: Valter Walker def. Louie Sutherland – Submission (heel hook), Round 1, 1:24. Walker impressed with a quick and technical submission finish.
Catchweight (147 lb): Nathaniel Wood def. Jose Miguel Delgado – Decision (unanimous, 29–28 each), 3 Rounds. Wood edged out a tactical win over his opponent.
Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Chris Barnett – Decision (unanimous, 29–26, 29–27, 29–27), 3 Rounds. Abdelwahab overcame adversity after being docked a point for an illegal elbow in the first round.
Catchweight (129 lb): Mitch Raposo def. Azat Maksum – Decision (unanimous, 30–26, 29–27, 29–27), 3 Rounds. Raposo dominated the fight despite a point deduction for grabbing the fence in round 3.
Women’s Strawweight: Mizuki Inoue def. Jaqueline Amorim – Decision (unanimous, 30–27, 30–27, 29–28), 3 Rounds. Inoue showcased her technique and controlled the fight from start to finish.
Bonus Awards
The UFC awarded $50,000 bonuses to the standout performers of the night:
- Fight of the Night: Ľudovít Klein vs. Mateusz Rębecki
- Performance of the Night: Quillan Salkilld and Valter Walker
UFC 321 will be remembered for its controversial heavyweight finish and several impressive performances across the main and preliminary cards. With the eye poke ruling clouding the main event, fans eagerly await a potential rescheduling between Aspinall and Gane, while other winners look to climb their divisions in upcoming events.
