Ante Delija Praises Tom Aspinall for Ending UFC 321 After Eye Poke
Ante Delija expressed his concerns regarding the recent incident involving his teammate, Tom Aspinall, at UFC 321. Aspinall suffered an eye poke during his title defense against Ciryl Gane, leading to the match being declared a no-contest. Delija, preparing for his own fight at UFC Vegas 110, believes stricter penalties should be enforced for such fouls.
Delija’s Advocacy for Safer Combat Sports
During a media session, Delija voiced his opposition to the current sanctions on fouls like eye pokes. He highlighted his extensive experience, stating, “In my 33 fights, I have never poked someone in the eye.” He stressed the importance of severe consequences for these actions to ensure fighters’ safety.
Aspinall’s Resilience
Delija praised Aspinall for his decision not to continue fighting after the incident. He suggested that if more fighters followed this example, it could lead to safer outcomes in the ring. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Aspinall and Gane are set to rematch for the title in 2026, which Delija is optimistic about. He stated, “In my opinion, Tom is a better fighter in general, and I saw that in the fight.”
Upcoming Fight for Delija
This weekend, Delija will be fighting Waldo Cortes-Acosta in Las Vegas. Cortes-Acosta recently had a five-fight winning streak before losing a decision to Sergei Pavlovich last August. While a win could lead to better opportunities in the heavyweight division, Delija is focused on his current challenge rather than immediate title aspirations.
- Event: UFC Vegas 110
- Opponent: Waldo Cortes-Acosta
- Aspinall’s next fight: Scheduled rematch against Ciryl Gane in 2026
- Delija’s experience: 33 fights without an eye poke
Delija also shared the personal impact of Aspinall’s actions. He considers Aspinall a close friend and expressed that he would not compete against him for a title, indicating the strong bond they share.
