retains

Tom Aspinall’s first defence of his undisputed heavyweight title ended in bitter disappointment after an accidental eye poke from Ciryl Gane left the Briton unable to continue at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi.

At the end of a competitive first round, France’s Gane poked Aspinall in both eyes while attempting a punch, with the referee stopping the contest.

Aspinall, 32, could be seen telling the doctor “I can’t see” as he held a cloth to his eye, and with the Briton unable to fight on the referee deemed the bout a no-contest.

The result meant Aspinall retained his title – but not in the way he wanted to and he showed his frustration in his post-fight interview as the crowd booed the outcome.

“Guys, I just got poked knuckle deep in the eyeball. Why are you booing? I can’t see,” said a crestfallen Aspinall.

“The fight was just getting going. I can hardly open my eye. Look! It was a double eye poke.”

Aspinall was taken to hospital after the fight and did not appear for the post-fight news conference.

Calling the fight a no-contest means the referee deemed the foul accidental rather than intentional, which would have resulted in a disqualification.

A disqualification would have gone down as a win for Aspinall.

Gane was equally annoyed at the outcome and could be seen pacing around the edge of the octagon, shaking his head, as the result was announced.

“I feel sorry. I’m sorry for the crowd, for the fans, I’m sorry for Tom Aspinall and sorry for myself,” said Gane.

“We put a lot of energy in this fight so I’m disappointed, but this is the sport, this is life.

“I don’t know what is going to happen for the future, but we will see.”

England’s Alice Hewson retained her Swiss Open title with a convincing five-shot victory at Golfpark Holzhausern.

The 28-year-old led by two strokes heading into the third and final round, where she carded a four-under 67 to seal her third Ladies European Tour title, finishing 13 under overall.

Ireland’s Lauren Walsh, Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini and Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall finished in a tie for second on eight under.

“It’s an absolute dream come true,” Hewson told LET.com.

Great Britain’s Luke Whitehouse won floor gold for the third-straight year at the European Gymnastics Championships, Leipzig.

The 22-year-old scored 14.500 to finish ahead of teammate Harry Hepworth, who claimed his first individual European medal with a score of 14.366.

Italy’s Lorenzo Casali finished third.

“It is unbelievable,” Whitehouse told BBC Sport. “I am lost for words. I knew it was possible, but to come out and do it, I couldn’t be prouder.”

It is Whitehouse and Hepworth’s second medal of the competition after winning team gold on Monday.

Hepworth, 21, will compete again in the rings final later on Friday and the vault final on Saturday.