UFC 321 promised a spectacle, but ultimately delivered one of 2025’s most disappointing pay-per-view events. From an unprecedented main event no-contest to a series of lackluster performances, the fight card left fans and critics alike feeling underwhelmed. Our comprehensive review breaks down every critical moment, revealing why this event earned a dismal D- grade and reshaped the heavyweight landscape.
The Disappointing Verdict: UFC 321 Earns a Low Grade
October 27, 2025, will be remembered less for thrilling finishes and more for unfulfilled promises in the UFC octagon. What appeared on paper to be a somewhat unremarkable event quickly devolved into a genuinely poor showing. With a main event that concluded without a definitive winner and several bouts earning failing marks, UFC 321 cemented its place as the weakest pay-per-view of the year. The card’s overall quality fell short on multiple fronts, including skill display, competitive intensity, and the stakes involved.
Heavyweight Title Chaos: Aspinall vs. Gane Ends in Frustration
The highly anticipated heavyweight championship clash between reigning champion Tom Aspinall and challenger Ciryl Gane ended in sheer disappointment. Just as the contest was heating up, an accidental eye poke from Gane rendered Aspinall unable to continue. The fight was declared a no-contest at 4:35 of the very first round, a rare and frustrating outcome for a title fight.
Prior to the foul, the bout showed early promise. Gane managed to bloody Aspinall’s nose, a sight that reportedly drew a smile from the champion, who seemed eager for a true challenge. This brief exchange highlighted the potential for an exciting chess match that was tragically cut short.
The outcome left the heavyweight division in disarray. As ESPN’s fighter profile confirms, Tom Aspinall, a dominant English striker known for his quick first-round KOs (Marcin Tybura, Sergei Pavlovich, Curtis Blaydes), was favored to defend his title. The inconclusive finish fueled widespread calls from analysts, including Brett Okamoto, to rebook Aspinall vs. Gane immediately. UFC President Dana White echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to resolve the divisional uncertainty stemming from the “disaster.” This premature ending robbed fans of a clear champion and deepened the sense of an incomplete night.
Glimmers of Brilliance: The Card’s Few Standout Performances
While the overall card struggled, a few fighters delivered genuinely impressive performances, offering brief reprieves from the pervasive mediocrity.
Salkilld’s Shocking Head Kick: An A-Grade Finish
The undisputed highlight of UFC 321 came from Quillan Salkilld in his lightweight bout against Nasrat Haqparast. In a terrifying display of power, Salkilld landed a flush right head kick in the opening round that instantly crumbled Haqparast. His opponent collapsed face-first and remained motionless for several minutes, a stark reminder of the brutal efficiency of MMA knockouts. This “jump-out-of-your-seat” moment was both exhilarating and sobering, earning Salkilld the highest grade of the night.
Murzakanov’s Precision & Walker’s Unique Grappling
Azamat Murzakanov continued to prove why he’s one of the most underestimated light heavyweight contenders. He dismantled Aleksandar Rakic with a simple yet devastating jab, securing a first-round TKO. Rakic’s once-vaunted punch resistance clearly faltered, allowing Murzakanov’s solid striking to shine through. This quick finish earned a well-deserved B+ grade.
Heavyweight Valter Walker put on a truly unique display against Louie Sutherland, securing his fourth consecutive win via heel hook submission. Finishing a fight with a heel hook is rare enough, but four in a row, especially for a heavyweight, is an absurd statistic. Walker efficiently trapped Sutherland’s leg after a takedown, forcing a quick tap. His post-fight interview, where he hilariously dismissed a translator to call out Hamdy Abdelwahab, only added to his impressive, albeit unconventional, performance.
Gritty Victories and Tough Decisions
Several other bouts delivered solid, if not spectacular, action, showcasing fighter tenacity and strategic acumen.
Klein vs. Rebecki: A Bloody, Resilient Battle
The lightweight clash between Ludovit Klein and Mateusz Rebecki was an entertaining and bloody affair. Klein’s crisp boxing busted up Rebecki in the early rounds, but Rebecki’s relentless pressure nearly paid off with a late comeback. Despite being outstruck, Rebecki secured a third-round takedown and unleashed ground-and-pound, even as Klein suffered an ankle injury. Klein weathered the storm to earn a majority decision in a fight that highlighted both fighters’ incredible toughness.
Nurmagomedov’s Grappling Dominance & Dern’s Title Ascent
In the men’s bantamweight division, Umar Nurmagomedov secured a unanimous decision victory over Mario Bautista. While not a highlight-reel performance, Nurmagomedov showed resilience, surviving an early toe hold attempt from Bautista. His superior grappling ultimately made the difference, positioning him back in title contention. Notably, Nurmagomedov previously faced Bekzat Almakhan, who, as per ESPN’s profile, is a formidable Kazakh bantamweight “Turan Warrior” known for his Karate style. Almakhan, despite his 12-2-0 record and a history of KOs, lost to Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision in March 2024, emphasizing Umar’s grappling prowess against strong strikers.
Mackenzie Dern’s strawweight championship win against Virna Jandiroba showcased her continued evolution as a striker. While still a grappling specialist, Dern’s improved stand-up was enough to secure a unanimous decision and the title. The fight, though gritty, lacked memorable moments and will likely be forgotten quickly without the added weight of championship gold.
Wood’s Comeback and Delgado’s Promise
Nathaniel Wood’s featherweight bout against Jose Miguel Delgado proved his resilience. Delgado started strong, dropping Wood with a head kick to spinning backfist combination. However, Wood steadily clawed his way back, staying competitive through three rounds and ultimately earning a unanimous decision. Delgado, despite the loss, showed significant promise, while Wood reaffirmed his status as a tough opponent for anyone.
The Fights to Forget: D and F Grades Weigh Down the Card
A significant portion of UFC 321 consisted of fights that were either uninspired, sloppy, or outright bad, contributing heavily to the event’s low overall grade.
Mizuki vs. Amorim: A Typical Grappler vs. Striker Letdown
The strawweight clash between Jaqueline Amorim and Mizuki played out as a typical, often unexciting, grappler versus striker encounter. Amorim frequently took Mizuki down and attempted submissions, but Mizuki consistently defended and landed the more impactful strikes. A late surge from Mizuki against a tiring Amorim in the third round was the most exciting moment, but it wasn’t enough to make this fight memorable.
Maksum vs. Raposo: The Infamous Fence Grab
In the men’s flyweight division, Mitch Raposo defeated Azat Maksum by unanimous decision in a fight best remembered for a blatant foul. Maksum, who missed weight, seemed tentative despite his perceived talent. Raposo outworked him, and Maksum was ultimately docked a point for a clear fence grab to escape a guillotine attempt. While a good win for underdog Raposo, the fight itself was largely forgettable.
Aliskerov’s Dominant, Unexciting Grappling Exhibition
Ikram Aliskerov secured a dominant unanimous decision over JunYong Park in a middleweight bout that exemplified effective but unengaging grappling. Aliskerov repeatedly grounded a helpless Park, maintaining control without actively pursuing a finish. This “dominant grappling exhibition” was effective for Aliskerov but failed to captivate the audience, earning a D grade.
Abdelwahab vs. Barnett: A Heavyweight Disaster
The F+ grade went to the heavyweight bout between Hamdy Abdelwahab and Chris Barnett. What started promisingly for Abdelwahab quickly devolved. A point deduction for an illegal elbow to the back of Barnett’s head in round one set the tone. From there, the fight became an absolute mess, culminating in Barnett’s shorts sliding off in the second round. This sloppy, uninspired contest was so bad it bordered on comically entertaining, but ultimately a dismal showing.
Volkov vs. Almeida: The Worst of the Night
Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida earned the lowest grade of F-. Almeida relentlessly pursued takedowns, spending nearly 11 of 15 minutes in control of Volkov on the ground. However, he did virtually nothing with this control time. Volkov, despite being on his back for most of the fight, managed to land just enough strikes in his brief moments standing to controversially squeeze out a split decision. This was a truly miserable fight, showcasing a one-dimensional game plan that offered no excitement or offensive output.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main event result at UFC 321 and why was it so disappointing?
The main event at UFC 321 featured Tom Aspinall defending his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. The fight ended in a no-contest (NC) at 4:35 of the first round due to an accidental eye poke by Gane that rendered Aspinall unable to continue. This outcome was highly disappointing because it left the highly anticipated title fight without a definitive winner, leading to calls for an immediate rematch and leaving the heavyweight division in a state of uncertainty.
Which fighter delivered the most impressive performance at UFC 321?
Quillan Salkilld arguably delivered the most impressive performance at UFC 321, earning the sole ‘A’ grade of the night. In his lightweight bout against Nasrat Haqparast, Salkilld landed a devastating right head kick in the first round, resulting in a frighteningly clean knockout. This highlight-reel finish was a rare moment of genuine excitement on an otherwise underwhelming fight card, showcasing explosive power and precision.
Why is UFC 321 considered one of the worst pay-per-views of 2025?
UFC 321 is widely considered one of the worst pay-per-views of 2025 due to a combination of factors. The card received an overall D- grade, featuring two ‘F’ grades for exceptionally poor fights (Volkov vs. Almeida, Abdelwahab vs. Barnett) and an ‘Incomplete’ grade for the main event no-contest between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane. Many bouts lacked competitiveness, skill, or significant stakes, with several delivering boring or sloppy performances that failed to engage the audience.
Conclusion: A Night to Learn From
UFC 321 served as a stark reminder that not every pay-per-view can be a blockbuster. While Quillan Salkilld’s stunning knockout offered a brief moment of brilliance, it wasn’t enough to rescue a card plagued by poor matchups, uninspired performances, and a frustratingly inconclusive main event. The impact on the heavyweight division, with Tom Aspinall’s title defense ending in a no-contest, leaves a lingering question mark over the championship picture. The hope now is for the UFC to learn from this D- grade event, rebook critical matchups, and deliver the high-stakes, action-packed cards fans truly deserve in the future.
