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Walker criticises Aspinall’s reaction to eye pokes as debate over rule changes grows

Originally posted on HITC | By Kyle Dimond | Last updated Nov 1, 2025 1:15 PM ET

Tom Aspinall’s first shot at defending his undisputed title didn’t go as planned at UFC 321.

The main event ended in a no contest after the champion said he couldn’t see following eye pokes to both eyes.

While Alex Pereira believes you can’t judge Aspinall without knowing what he was experiencing, others have taken a different view.

The result of the heavyweight title fight has prompted calls for rule changes, though one of the division’s top contenders feels it may be having an adverse effect.

Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Valter Walker claims Tom Aspinall made the heavyweights look bad at UFC 321

Since UFC 321, there’s been plenty of talk about how to stop eye pokes from affecting fights, but most of the attention has stayed on how Tom Aspinall reacted, not on whether Ciryl Gane should face any consequences.

Walker didn’t hold back his opinion during a recent conversation with James Lynch for Inside Fighting, criticising Aspinall for how he represented the division.

Valter Walker back in the gym days after UFC 321, despite broken fibula

Valter Walker walked into UFC 321 with injury concerns and left with a broken fibula. But even that didn’t keep him out of the gym for long.

Valter Walker grinding in the gym even with a broken fibula — built different pic.twitter.com/OBOCY25K4R
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 29, 2025

The Brazilian had already put together three submission wins earlier this year and wasn’t about to lose momentum, no matter how short the layoff was.

A video posted by Walker on Instagram showed him back at training just days after his latest win, still wearing a cast on his left leg.

Walker is currently ranked #14 in the division and could end up fighting Aspinall soon, especially with heavyweight title contenders looking thin right now.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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