Dana White triggered strong criticism after his reaction to the UFC 321 no-contest. The UFC president showed little sympathy for Tom Aspinall following a brutal eye poke in Abu Dhabi. Ciryl Gane struck Aspinall in both eyes, which caused serious damage and ended the fight early. The illegal blows delayed Aspinall’s return and disrupted his everyday life. Aspinall later underwent double eye surgery, but online trolls still accused him of faking the injury.
Brendan Schaub believes White helped fuel that hostility. The former UFC contender argued that White’s comments encouraged fans to doubt Aspinall’s honesty and toughness.
White’s Post-Fight Comment Sparks Controversy
White said Aspinall “didn’t want to continue” during the UFC 321 post-fight press conference. Many fans interpreted that statement as a suggestion that Aspinall chose to quit. Some fighters, including TJ Dillashaw, repeated similar views and questioned the champion’s decision.
Schaub rejected those claims and defended Aspinall strongly. He said the champion suffered real damage and deserved support rather than suspicion. Schaub attacked the trolls in a video posted on his X account and criticized their intelligence. He described Aspinall as a lifelong martial artist who dedicated his entire life to the sport. He insisted Aspinall had no reason to fake the injury and viewed the Gane matchup as favorable.
Schaub also criticized White’s communication style. He said White often speaks impulsively and without restraint. Schaub argued that White’s words carry massive influence in MMA. He warned that White’s comments energized trolls and intensified the online backlash against Aspinall.
Aspinall Slams the Business Side of MMA
Aspinall developed a more cynical view of the sport after the incident. He shared his frustration during a video documenting his double eye surgery with Petesy Carroll. Aspinall said he still loves martial arts and will always love fighting itself. He explained that he hates the business side of MMA and how it treats fighters.
Aspinall said the industry makes fighters feel easily replaceable. He argued that even serious illegal fouls receive little concern from promoters and fans. He said the lack of empathy shocked him and changed how he views the sport’s structure and priorities.
