Rogan Defends Aspinall After UFC 321 Backlash

Joe Rogan has called out fans who criticized Tom Aspinall for withdrawing from his UFC 321 title defense after an eye poke from Ciryl Gane.

The British heavyweight's first fight as undisputed champion last October ended as a no-contest near the end of the opening round when Aspinall could not continue after Gane's fingers struck his eyes. Aspinall has since undergone two surgeries to repair damage from the foul, per MMA Fighting, and is still awaiting medical clearance to return.

Rogan Calls Criticism 'Insane'

Some viewers accused Aspinall of quitting after possibly losing the first round. Rogan, who has consistently defended the heavyweight champion, addressed those critics on a recent episode of his podcast. He said Aspinall was in no condition to continue and described the eye poke as severe. Rogan's guest Rico Verhoeven, a kickboxing champion who trains with Aspinall, told the podcast that Aspinall would never quit for strategic reasons and called him one of the hardest workers he knows.

Aspinall has posted regular updates on his recovery and medical procedures since the fight. He has also drawn attention for recently signing with Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, who is currently feuding with UFC CEO Dana White. Between the injury absence and an earlier pursuit of a bout with Jon Jones that never materialized, Aspinall has fought just twice since 2023.

Rogan said fans who expected Aspinall to continue fighting with a damaged eye missed the point. The bout was stopped because of a foul, not a legal strike, and the referee made the correct call. Aspinall is expected to return once cleared by doctors.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Morning Report | Joe Rogan defends Tom Aspinall from critics of UFC 321 no-contest: ‘He got really f*cked over’