Tom Aspinall retains UFC heavyweight title with controversial Cyril Gane stoppage

Tom Aspinall has retained his UFC heavyweight title as a result of a no-contest.

The Atherton-born brawler looked to defend his belt against Cyril Gane in Abu Dhabi on Saturday evening - and while he was able to do so, it wasn't in the fashion he had planned.

Both men came out swinging at the start of the first round, with Gane relying on a piston-like jab and inside kicks to Aspinall's lead leg to slow the champion.

Within minutes, Aspinall was wearing claret on his face, as Gane found success on the feet with his jab - but looked far from out of control as he mixed it up with haymakers and kicks of his own.

Bon Gamin then showed brilliant takedown defence midway through the first, as Aspinall shot low to no avail. As both men looked to close out a relatively close opening round, Gane accidentally poked Aspinall in his eyes with an outstretched hand.

Referee Jason Herzog instantly called for a break in the action, allowing Aspinall five minutes to recover as a result of the foul. However, the outlook started to look disheartening when Aspinall was heard telling the cage side physician: "His f***ing finger was right in my eyeball mate," while also complaining that he couldn't see.

The worst outcome for the fight was confirmed as the five-minute recovery period was about to expire, with Herzog waving off the bout which he ruled to be a no-contest as the result of an unintentional foul.

The Etihad Arena on Yas Island began to clear almost immediately as a chorus of jeers rang out from spectators - and Aspinall didn't take kindly to boos pointed in his direction.

Speaking to Daniel Cormier after the bout was called off, he said: "Guys I just got f***ing poked knuckle deep in the eyeball, what the f***?

"Why are you