Former UFC title contender and current analyst Chael Sonnen didn’t hold back after the controversial end to UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, where heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall was ruled unable to continue following a double eye poke from Ciryl Gane in the first round of their main event bout.

Speaking during his post-fight breakdown, Sonnen questioned whether Aspinall showed enough grit in the moment, arguing that championship-level fighters have pushed through worse. “Being poked in the eye is illegal,” Sonnen said. “But to fight with one eye is very common. I’m just telling you, that’s a very real thing — guys get poked all the time, they keep going.”

He continued: “In all fairness, you’re the heavyweight champion of the world. You’ve got to fight with one eye at times.”

Sonnen went on to suggest that the fight’s tempo may have been unfamiliar territory for Aspinall, who had finished six straight opponents inside the first round prior to UFC 321. “He’s been smoking guys so fast that he hasn’t had to deal with adversity,” Sonnen said. “This was the first time somebody stood their ground and hit him back. I’m not saying he quit — but it looked like a guy who wasn’t used to being in that kind of fight.”

At cageside, referee Jason Herzog immediately paused the bout after Gane’s outstretched fingers made contact with Aspinall’s right eye. Ringside doctors quickly examined the champion, who told them, “I can’t see.” Moments later, Herzog waved off the contest, ruling it a no contest just seconds before the end of Round 1.

Sonnen pointed to that exchange as the turning point. “As soon as he said, ‘I can’t see,’ that’s it — that’s the fight,” Sonnen explained. “But fighters know that line. You never say that out loud if you want to keep going.”

Former light heavyweight contender and analyst Anthony Smith, who was on the same broadcast panel, agreed in part, noting that fighting through an eye injury is dangerous but also common in combat sports. “You never want to say ‘I can’t see,’ because once you do, the ref’s got no choice,” Smith said. “I’ve been there. I’ve fought with one eye — it’s not fun, but sometimes you’ve got to make that call yourself.”

While Sonnen’s comments drew criticism from fans who defended Aspinall’s decision to prioritize his vision, the debate reignited one of MMA’s oldest questions: where should the line be drawn between toughness and safety? Many fighters came to Aspinall’s defense online, pointing out that a deep corneal scratch or retinal damage could easily end a career.

Aspinall, who was visibly emotional after the stoppage, told reporters that his vision had gone “completely blurry” and that continuing would have been reckless. “I wanted to keep fighting,” he said, “but I couldn’t see a thing. You can’t defend yourself properly like that.”

The no-contest result means Aspinall retains his title, and UFC President Dana White has already confirmed plans to rebook the matchup “as soon as possible.” Still, Sonnen’s remarks have added fuel to the post-fight discussion, highlighting the razor-thin balance between fighter pride and professional prudence.

As of now, medical scans are expected to determine the extent of Aspinall’s eye injury. If cleared, the rematch with Gane could headline a major card in early 2026 — and this time, all eyes will be on whether the British champion can silence critics like Chael Sonnen once and for all.