Imagine being accused of quitting a championship fight due to an eye poke, only to have your teammate suffer the same fate—and then get knocked out. This is the drama that unfolded in the UFC heavyweight division, leaving fans divided and fighters calling each other out.
A week ago, the UFC world was shaken when Tom Aspinall, the heavyweight champion, faced Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 321. In a shocking turn of events, Aspinall was forced to withdraw from the fight after Gane accidentally poked him in both eyes during the opening round. The highly anticipated title bout ended in a no-contest, leaving fans and critics alike debating the outcome. But here’s where it gets controversial: Despite the legitimate injury, Aspinall faced a wave of backlash from fans who accused him of taking the easy way out. Was this criticism fair, or did emotions cloud the judgment of the audience?
Fast forward to UFC Vegas 110, where Aspinall’s teammate, Ante Delija, found himself in a strikingly similar situation. Delija inadvertently poked his opponent, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, in the eye, causing a temporary pause in the fight. And this is the part most people miss: Just days earlier, Delija had publicly criticized eye pokes, claiming he had never committed one in his 33-fight career and even suggesting severe punishment for such actions. The irony was palpable when, moments after the eye poke, Cortes-Acosta knocked Delija out cold, turning the tables in spectacular fashion.
In his post-fight interview, Cortes-Acosta didn’t hold back. He called out Aspinall, accusing him of ‘quitting’ at UFC 321 due to the eye poke. When pressed at the press conference, Cortes-Acosta doubled down, citing three reasons for the call-out: Aspinall’s status as champion, his perceived quit at UFC 321, and the knockout victory over his teammate. Boldly, Cortes-Acosta asked the question on everyone’s mind: ‘What happens if Tom Aspinall fights Waldo Cortes?’ With eight wins in his last ten fights, Cortes-Acosta is clearly eyeing a shot at the title—and he’s not afraid to stir the pot to get it.
This saga raises intriguing questions about fighter resilience, fan perceptions, and the unpredictability of MMA. Did Aspinall and Delija truly quit, or were their injuries legitimate reasons to stop? Is Cortes-Acosta’s call-out justified, or is he capitalizing on controversy? What do you think? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
